Welcome to the homepage of the INTDS

We are a not-for-profit, educational organization that:

	Encourages the sharing of techniques developed, or being developed, to provide research-quality targets and reference samples, mostly for basic research in physics, chemistry, and related sciences.
	Publishes the techniques of target preparation and related topics in a manner easily located in the scientific literature. Today a PC-based database of INTDS publications lists over 1000 articles and is searchable with more than 250 relevant keywords. Many of the articles were published as editions of Nuclear Instruments and Methods and are proceedings of INTDS conferences.
	Mentors people new to target and sample preparation.
	Provides modest financial support for hosts of INTDS conferences and for selected speakers.

We trace our roots to 1963 and the First Symposium on Research Materials for Nuclear Measurements, sponsored by the Central Bureau for Nuclear Measurements (CBNM, recently IRMM - Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements) in, Belgium. Since than we share experience and discuss the problems related to the target preparation during conferences (recently biennial) hosted alternatively mainly in Europe and North America but as well by research centres located in other places. The last one, already 26^th, organised by Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz and GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, took place in Mainz, Germany in August 2012. The target makers community was represented by 75 participants from 17 countries.

Many of the subjects of interest to the INTDS are related to the preparation of thin foils. Our members are engaged in sample preparations for research in nuclear physics, nuclear energy, biology, geology, space science, medical diagnosis and cancer treatment, and for the calibration of scientific instruments.

Our hot list of interests includes:

- Preparation techniques for thin films, e.g., vacuum evaporation/condensation, sputtering, electrochemical deposition, powder distribution and compaction, and roll thinning;

- Separation and chemical processing of stable and radioactive isotopes;

- Preparation and characterization of high-purity and special materials;

- Development of highly material-conservative methods of preparation;

- Effects of contaminants;

- Target and sample encapsulation;

- Radiation and beam heating effects;

- Accelerator targets for radionuclide production;

- Availability of isotopes; and,

- Target and sample thicknesses from gas densities to kg/cm².

Last change: 17 June 2011