[en] Industrial processes result in pollution of soil, water, atmosphere, and biosphere. The fate of the pollutants depends on their local chemical environment which may vary within a few μm. Microfocused X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction are ideally suited to identify the chemical forms of pollutants at high spatial resolution. The information gained by these methods can then be used for improved risk assessments and remediation strategies. Such advanced analytical methods require the installation of a synchrotron environmental laboratory. (orig.)

[en] The ANKA storage ring at FZK will be used for research and fabrication of microstructures by deep X-ray lithography. Three beamlines have been build up for this purpose. They are equipped with grazing incidence mirrors which are adopted in the cut-off energy to achieve optimized irradiation conditions in terms of minimization of heat load and high energy photons. The direct access to this equipment together with the availability of all additional process steps of the LIGA technology on the campus facilitates the application of the LIGA technology for industrial fabrication. (orig.)

[en] Westinghouse was assigned with the decommissioning of the KNK plant by th Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe. One very substantial subject such as the decommissioning of the reactor vessel, is currently performed under specific boundary conditions as residual sodium in the vessel on nitrogen environment. An enclosure in hot-cell technology with wall thickness of 350 mm and total weight of around 500 Mg has been erected above the reactor vessel. All operations are done remote controlled. The paper describes the main boundary conditions, weights and dose rates, cutting technology and installed infrastructure. (orig.)

[en] Liquid ionization chambers are appropriate instruments to monitor and control deposited radiation dose realized by new methods in intensity modulated radiation therapy. Modern amplifier and read-out electronics allow to register simultaneously a high number of channels and to obtain a fast and detailed description of the radiation field. By these means dose deposition in radiation therapy can be controlled and supervised efficiently. (orig.)

[en] The scientific objective of the Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment is the model-independent measurement of the neutrino mass with a sensitivity of 200 meV. KATRIN is motivated by the key role of neutrinos in astroparticle physics. The experimental principle of KATRIN is based on the precise measurement of the β-decay electron spectrum near the kinematical endpoint of molecular tritium. The experiment imposes supreme challenges to process technology, in particular with regard to tritium handling, ultra high vacuum and cryogenic technology, as well as stabilisation of high voltage. A world-wide collaboration of more than 125 scientists and engineers led by Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe is currently working on the assembly of the experiment at Tritium Laboratory Karlsruhe. First measurements with the entire set-up are planned for 2010. (orig.)

[en] Over the last 30 years or so, a handful of events observed with ground-based cosmic ray detectors seem to have opened a new window in the field of high-energy astro-physics. These Events have energies exceeding 5 x 10¹⁹ eV. They seem to come from no known astro-physical source. Their chemical composition is unknown (or at best uncertain). No conventional acceleration mechanism is considered as being able to explain their production and propagation to earth. Only a dedicated detector can bring in the high-quality and statistically significant data needed to solve this long-lasting puzzle: this is the aim of the Pierre Auger Observatory. While still under construction, the Observatory is already accumulating data. Here we present an overview of the physics results this detector has already provided. (orig.)

[en] The possible migration of radionuclides away from a nuclear waste repository via the groundwater pathway is significantly determined by geochemical reactions with near-field barriers and in the aquifer system (far-field). Release of actinides from the repository near-field can be minimized by introducing an appropriate geochemical buffer. A Mg(OH)₂ based material is demonstrated to efficiently reduce actinide solubility in a repository situated in rock salt hostrock by buffering groundwater pH and reducing the carbonate concentration. Radionuclide mobility in the far-field of a repository is largely governed by sorption to rock and sediment surfaces and interaction with aquatic colloids. Examples are described for the actinide behaviour in fractured crystalline hostrock as found in the underground laboratories Aespoe(Sweden) and Grimsel (Switzerland). (orig.)

[en] The development of fusion technology calls for structural materials that provide high performance in a severe environment and attractive radiological features. Significant R and D accomplishments are summarized for ferritic-martensitic steels which combine favourable mechanical properties, irradiation resistance and reduced activation. As a long term perspective even more attractive materials for high temperatures and divertor applications are oxide dispersion strengthened ferric steels and tungsten based alloys. A fusion relevant material testing facility will be the intensive neutron source IFMIF which is being developed under the auspices of the International Energy Agency (IEA).(orig.)

[en] Nuclear Fusion research is aimed to create the physical and technological basis for the exploitation of fusion energy for electricity production. A fusion power station is characterized by tremendous energy yield as compared to fossil energy sources, attractive safety features and low environmental impact. Furthermore fuel stock is almost unlimited and equally available on our planet. The physical basis of nuclear fusion as well as the model of a future fusion power station are explained and an outlook in terms of a fusion roadmap is presented. (orig.)

[en] Safe management of high-level liquid waste solutions arising from reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel includes the conversion into a stable waste form for long-term storage. Immobilization in glass as the best practicable way has been established since 25 years. One of the vitrification technologies, developed at Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, is based on a liquid-fed Joule-heated ceramic-lined melter, which converts the liquid waste into glass by a single stage process. The mature melter technology will be used for a second hot application in the near future. (orig.)