k0 Users' Workshop 2026

13 Sept 2026, 17:00 → 18 Sept 2026, 18:00 Australia/Sydney

Mercure Hotel Sydney

Attila Stopic (ANSTO)

The 9th International k0-Users' Workshop will be hosted by ANSTO in Sydney, Australia. This will be the first time the workshop has been held in the Asia-Pacific region and only the second time in it will have been held in the southern hemisphere.

The k0-Users' Workshop

Users' workshops have occurred since 1992 approximately every four years.  The format has generally comprised conference-style presentations covering all aspects of k0-based neutron activation analysis (NAA) and often featured a technical tour of the hosts' scientific facilities. 

What is k0?

The k0 method of standardisation is an advanced form of NAA that allows for the use of single-element standards, among other optimisations.  It was developed in the seventies and early eighties by Prof Frans Fe Corte of Belgium and Dr András Simonits and Hungary.  Today this method is used worldwide by dozens of NAA laboratories. 

Training course

In addition to the usual conference-style presentations, the 9th edition will incorporate for the first time a practical training course titled "Introduction to k0-NAA for users of relative-method NAA."  As the title implies it is aimed at established practitioners of NAA who wish to learn how to extend their capabilities by implementing the k0-method in their facilities.  The course will cover the required equipment, reactor and detector calibration methodologies, using the two most commonly used software packages, k0-IAEA and Kayzero for Windows. 

Monday, 14 September

Talks: Welcome and opening talks

10:30 Morning tea

Talks

12:30 Lunch

Talks

15:30 Afternoon tea

Talks

Committee meeting: k0-nuclear data sub-committee meeting

Tuesday, 15 September

Talks

10:30 Morning tea

Talks

12:30 Lunch

Talks

15:30 Afternoon tea

Talks

Committee meeting: k0 international scientific committee meeting

Wednesday, 16 September

Technical tour: ANSTO site tour

12:30 Lunch

Training

1 Introduction to k0-NAA

The training component of the k0 workshop is intended for those familiar with "classical" (relative) NAA who are new to the k0-method.

This training session outlines the fundamentals of the k0-method of standardisation, including the advantages and disadvantages compared to the classical relative method. Equipment and software requirements will be described.

Speaker: Mr Attila Stopic (ANSTO)

15:00 Afternoon tea

19:00 Conference dinner

Thursday, 17 September

Talks

10:30 Morning tea

Talks: Final talks

12:30 Lunch

Training

2 Reactor calibration

k0-NAA requires that the neutron spectrum of the neutron irradiation facilities is calibrated, something not required for relative NAA. This session describes the various ways in which this can be measured.

Speaker: Mr Attila Stopic (ANSTO)

15:00 Afternoon tea

3 Detector calibration

k0-NAA requires generally more rigorous detector calibration than relative NAA. This session describes the basic detector calibration concepts employed by various k0 software packages.

Speaker: Mr Attila Stopic (ANSTO)

Friday, 18 September

Training

4 k0-IAEA

This is a practical session where participants will be shown how to set up k0-IAEA, including inputting calibration data. Basic operations of k0-IAEA will be demonstrated using previously measured spectra.

Speaker: Mr Mehmet Sarilar (Delft University of Technology)

10:30 Morning tea

12:30 Lunch

Training

5 Kayzero for Windows

This is a practical session where participants will be shown how to set up Kayzero for Windows, including inputting calibration data. Basic operations of KfW will be demonstrated using previously measured spectra.

Speaker: Mr Attila Stopic (ANSTO)

15:00 Afternoon tea