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An ion beam analytical set-up, installed at the beamlines of the ATOMKI Tandetron accelerator, serves to determine the concentration and distribution of elements both in vacuum and in-air (for larger or sensitive artefacts) with high lateral resolution.
The National Gallery holds a large archive of documentation from technical examination and conservation of its world-class collection of western European paintings. This includes many iconic works, ranging in date from 1200 to around 1900.
Platforms:
Archlab
Techniques:
Archival research techniqueArchival techniqueDocumentary source analysis
OCT provides cross-sectional images called B-scans by analogy to ultrasonography, up to about 15 mm in width and showing structures up to about 1.5 mm in depth from the surface, on condition that the structure is at least partially transparent to the probing light (near IR).
The RCE has developed many studies of cultural heritage objects and artworks, including paintings by Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Mondrian and many others. The research department currently has a strong focus on modern materials and objects, from 1870 till present. Typical objects and materials which were investigated are paintings, historic interiors, textiles, furniture, metals, glass, ceramics, leather, plastics, pigments, binding media, varnish, resin, paper, books, inks all from periods varying from pre-historic up to today. In addition, access is allowed to a large collection of reference materials of over 10.000 materials including all of the materials mentioned above.
The laser removal of unwanted layers constituted by materials of diverse origin (organic and inorganic), assembled in mixtures (e.g., thick pollution, burial accumulations) or in layers (e.g., multiple protective, metallic, dirt and/or overpaint layers) on weathered, even fragile, original surfaces. The laser action is based on the process of ablation or vaporization and it offers unique possibilities in surface cleaning as it entails precise control, material selectivity and immediate feedback. These attributes are particularly important in Heritage conservation and within the last twenty years, lasers have evolved as exceptionally practical, and at the same time, delicate cleaning tools. This FIXLAB possesses a variety of pulsed laser sources emitting in the ultraviolet, visible and infrared spectral ranges with pulse duration in the nanosecond and femtosecond regimes. Laser cleaning investigations are carried out in the installation on a large variety of heritage materials, including varnished paintings, polychromes on wood or stone, heritage stone with pollution and/or biodegradation crusts, metal substrates with corrosion layers, paper and parchment-based documents and other materials. Studies aim at determining the most adequate laser parameters and the most convenient methodologies (choice of laser wavelength, dual irradiation schemes, etc.) for a safe laser cleaning treatment according with material properties and state of conservation.
Platforms:
Fixlab
Tools:
Pulsed laser irradiation for cleaning applications
Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) or laser-stimulated fluorescence (LSF) is a spectroscopic method in which an atom or molecule is excited to a higher energy level by the absorption of laser light followed by spontaneous emission of light.
Systematic long-term measurements for evaluating time degradation (QGIS, BIM/HBIM); High-resolution 3d models; Mapping of archaeological sites; Interactive online/offline 3D models, artistic 2D/3D renders, online/offline virtual tours, 3D prints.
Platforms:
Molab
Tools:
UAV equipped with high resolution imaging sensors: LIDAR, thermal, multispectral
Techniques:
Uav photogrammetry and aerial multispectral modelsUav-lidar
Organization
National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a type of atomic emission spectroscopy that uses a highly energetic laser pulse as the excitation source. The laser is focused to form a plasma, which atomizes and excites samples. The plasma formation only begins when the focused laser achieves a certain threshold for optical breakdown, which generally depends on the environment and the target material. In principle, LIBS uses optical emission spectrometry and is to this extent very similar to arc/spark emission spectroscopy.
Budapest Neutron Centre (BNC) offers access to a broad selection of instruments for non‐destructive investigation of Cultural Heritage objects, utilizing the neutrons produced at the Budapest Research Reactor. The applied analytical and scattering methods can reveal the element composition and structure of even complex Cultural Heritage objects made of stones, ceramics, metals and glass. The analytical and structural information can be combined with 2D or 3D images obtained using neutrons of various energies or X-ray radiation. In most cases, even large objects (~10-20 cm) can be investigated without any sampling or destruction. A handheld XRF is complementing the on‐site instrument suit. The ensemble of instruments offered by BNC is a unique opportunity in Europe for non‐invasive investigation of museum artefacts, as neutron-based and complementary techniques are concentrated within a single campus. The instrument scientists and other involved senior staff members have more than 20 years of experience in Heritage Science research. This competence is inevitable for the proper interpretation of the data. BNC has a well-established co‐operation with major Hungarian museums, academic institutions and universities relevant to Heritage Science, as well as with international partners. Both institutions are founding members of the Hungarian Infrastructure Platform in Heritage Science (E-RIHS.hu)
Platforms:
Fixlab
Tools:
Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA)Neutron-Induced Prompt Gamma-ray Spectroscopy (NIPS)Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA)Time-Of-Flight Neutron Diffraction (TOF-ND)"Yellow Submarine" Small Angle Neutron Scattering (YS-SANS)Time of Flight Small Angle Neutron Scattering (FSANS)Static/dynamic white-beam-neutron and X-ray imaging station (RAD)Neutron Optics and Radiography for Material Analysis (NORMA)
NLOM is based on the excitation of the non-linear optical response that any material can generate upon excitation with laser pulses of very short duration, in the range of femtoseconds. The NLOM system makes possible, throughout the combined use of the different modalities (Multiphoton Excitation Fluorescence, Second and Third Harmonic Generation), to acquire information, in a totally non-invasive way, on the presence of layers of different chemical nature, their thickness or their crystalline or hierarchical internal organization (i.e. parchment, starch glues, etc.). Lateral and axial resolutions are in the micrometre range and the penetration depth can reach up to 1 mm, depending on the sample transparency. The technique can be applied to substrates that are transparent in the IR region, such as varnishes, painting layers, corrosion layers on metal substrates, parchments and others.