Editorial Nuclear analytical methods: We've got the hammer for your nail

From 6 to 9 September 2010, the 6th Workshop “Radiochemical Analysis for Use and Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities, the Declaration of Waste and Radiation Protection” (RCA) and the 23rd Seminar “Activation Analysis & Gamma Spectrometry” (SAAGAS) were jointly held in Dresden Rossendorf (Germany). In fact, we observe that not only the conferences grow together but also our research fields constantly expand to other areas and seek collaboration in topics that are all but traditionally “nuclear”. The spectrum of the presentations ranged from classical archaeometry to tests on cable fires in power plants. From provenance studies of traffic-related particulate matter to nutritional studies on trace elements in honey. From activation studies for the decommissioning of nuclear facilities to the application of mobile neutron sources for future moon explorations. The remarkable variety of different topics is the best evidence for the universal applicability of nuclear techniques, notably nuclear analytical techniques. With numerous non-nuclear analytical methods being ubiquitously available, we feel that the analytical community sometimes seems to oversee the advantages nuclear techniques (such as activation or ion beam analysis) may offer for their specific problems. We are sure that in many cases, a nuclear technique can be the method of choice for certain analytical challenges.

Thus, we are looking forward to keep on the tradition of these nuclear-based workshops and seminars. The 7th RCA will be held again at Dresden-Rossendorf, whereas the 24th SAAGAS will probably move on to the Forschungsneutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) at Munich. We are looking forward to these events with keen anticipation and wish the organisers all the best. We hope the upcoming seminars will be as successful as the joint SAAGAS & RCA – event in 2010 with 30 oral presentations – including two invited contributions by Rolf Michel (University of Hanover, Germany) and Sönke Szidat (University of Berne, Switzerland) and one evening lecture for the public by Max Bichler (Atominstitut Vienna, Austria)—and 17 posters!

This special issue in Applied Radiation and Isotopes contains seven selected contributions from RCA-SAAGAS. We thank our sponsors and co-organisers (AMETEK/ORTEC, AREVA, CANBERRA, Dr. Westmaier GmbH, Fachverband für Strahlenschutz, Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker, Landeshauptstadt Dresden, Kerntechnische Gesellschaft, Wirtschaftsverband Kernbrennstoff Kreislauf) for their support of RCA-SAAGAS and especially for supporting this issue. The hard work of numerous reviewers is highly appreciated: Thanks to all of you. We finally thank Elsevier for providing a forum for our cumulative contributions. We are sure that this issue will be highly visible in the analytical community. Besides, we hope it will stimulate further collaborations between nuclear and non-nuclear sciences.

In conclusion we are proud to say: We are the Nuclear Analytical Methods: We may have gotten the hammer for your nail! So do not hesitate to contact us.