The unit of Florence is the coordinator of the CHNet network and its activities, both the activities of INFN and the ones of the extended network E-RIHS.
As for what concerns the scientific activities, this is mainly linked to the 3 MV tandem accelerator placed in the LABEC laboratory, largely devoted to cultural heritage activities. This accelerator allows for radiocarbon dating with Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) technique and for Ion Beam Analyses (IBA) on cultural heritage. Moreover, a pulsed beam channel is present, used for both testing detectors used by the network and for supporting research about cultural heritage, for example by irradiating with controlled dose quartz and feldspar used in thermoluminescence dating.
In the last years, a new line devoted to the development of X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) scanners has started; the goal is to obtain systems as compact, strong, low-cost and low-radiation as possible, and with the same acquisition platforms used for the accelerator.

Since 2018 the team is working with CERN to the project MACHINA (Movable Accelerator for Cultural Heritage In-situ Non-destructive Analysis) to realise a transportable accelerator for cultural heritage analysis. This instrument will work mainly in the laboratories of Opificio delle Pietre Dure (OPD) in Florence and will be moved to the artwork when necessary.

Available Techniques:

– Radiocarbon Dating
– Ion Beam Analysis (PIXE, PIGE, BS, IL, DPAA)
– XRF imaging