Microtron facility at Mangalore University - present status and future program

An indigenously developed Variable Energy Microtron, designed and developed at CAT Indore, to strengthen the teaching and research programs in interdisciplinary areas of science and technology is being used by various researchers from sister universities and national laboratories at Mangalore University. The first of its kind electron accelerator in the country is capable of delivering energetic electrons of energy 8/12 MeV, intense Bremsstrahlung photons of peak energy 8/12 MeV and also neutrons of reasonably high flux for variety of applications. The accelerator is currently used for investigations on radiation dosimetry, radiation damage studies, photofission and radiation biophysics. Preliminary experiments to characterise neutrons produced through (γ, n) reaction are also in progress. A bird's eye view of this unique facility and the R and D programs with some sample results are presented. (author)