The spatial arrangement, size distribution, and shape of internal pores in several archaeological ceramic vessels from the Akterek burial site at Zhambyl District of Almaty Region, Republic of Kazakhstan were studied using neutron tomography. The internal pores were segmented from the obtained neutron data and the porosity value for the ancient ceramic samples was calculated. Analysis of the structural tomography data showed that the ceramic materials contained a large number of relatively small pores, with an average diameter less than 1.5 mm, while some ceramic objects had larger pores or cavities exceeding 2 mm in diameter. In addition, there are differences in the morphological parameters of large and small pores. It was suggested that these large pores formed as a result of temperature changes during the firing of the pottery ceramics. The relative shifting of Raman peaks in the carbon group in amorphous carbon, as an indicator of the firing temperature of ceramic materials, confirms this assumption.

As the methods, instrumentation, and resolution of three-dimensional spatial analysis have improved over the past twenty years, it is now possible to image the internal microstructure of multiphase materials in detail in three dimensions. Three-dimensional X-ray microtomography offers a unique opportunity for high spatial resolution imaging that can be achieved in compact desktop systems using X-ray microfocus sources. Recently, a modern desktop cone-beam X-ray microtomography system for quantitative analysis of materials in three dimensions was installed at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This paper presents the design, description of the main components, and technical parameters of this X-ray microtomography system, called IMAX. This system is designed to acquire, process, store X-ray images, and reconstruct three-dimensional data from angular projections for the study of internal structures and non-destructive testing of materials. The system consists of a microfocus X-ray source providing an X-ray energy range from 35 to 80 keV, a flat panel scintillation detector system allowing high-resolution digital imaging, optomechanical platforms for sample positioning, and radiation shielding. The first results of test measurements using this X-ray system are presented.

The degradation of the electronic properties of semiconductor materials and electronic devices under neutron irradiation is a critical issue for the development of electronic systems intended for use in nuclear and thermonuclear energy facilities. This study presents a methodology for real-time measurement of the electrical parameters of semiconductor structures during neutron irradiation in a high-flux reactor environment. A specially designed irradiation fixture with an electrical measurement system was developed and implemented at the WWR-K research reactor. The system enables simultaneous measurement of electrical conductivity and the Hall effect, with automatic temperature control and remote data acquisition. The sealed fixture, equipped with radiation-resistant wiring and a temperature control, allows for continuous measurement of remote material properties at neutron fluences exceeding 10¹⁸ cm⁻², eliminating the limitations associated with post-irradiation handling of radioactive samples. The technique was successfully applied to the two different InGaAs-based heterostructures, revealing distinct mechanisms of radiation-induced modification: degradation of mobility and carrier concentration in the InGaAs quantum well structure on GaAs substrate, and transmutation-induced doping effects in the heterostructure on InP substrate. The developed methodology provides a reliable platform for evaluating radiation resistance and optimizing materials for magnetic sensors and electronic components designed for high-radiation environments.

We studied the structural features in internal pores and mineral inclusions of several vessels from the Shubarat-1 archeological site in the Republic of Kazakhstan, dating to the late first millennium BC, using neutron tomography. Differences in the neutron attenuation coefficients of the constituent elements of pottery objects, as well as the high penetration capability of neutron tomography, make it possible to conduct non-destructive studies of rare ceramic vessels. By analyzing the three-dimensional tomography data, we can reconstruct the size and morphological parameters of internal pores and minerals. Based on these structural findings, we can clarify past pottery production processes.