A device for measuring a quantity representative of a population (N) of cold atoms, the cold atoms being located in a cloud of cold atoms to be analyzed, the device includes a microwave source configured to generate an incident signal at a predetermined signal frequency, a microwave guide configured to propagate the incident signal and an antenna configured to emit the incident signal to the cloud of cold atoms and its environment, the antenna and the microwave guide also being able to recover an atomic reflected signal resulting from a reflection of the incident signal by the cloud and its environment, and which propagates in the waveguide in the opposite direction to the incident signal, a splitting device coupled to the microwave guide and configured to extract at least part of the atomic reflected signal, a detector configured to detect the atomic reflected signal extracted by the splitting device, the quantity representative of the population of cold atoms (N) being obtained from a detected value of the atomic reflected signal and from a detected value of a signal reflected by the environment in the absence of the cloud, called reference reflected signal.

A target current monitoring device for a boron neutron capture therapy system includes a beam current shaping body and a replaceable target part disposed inside a proton channel of the beam current shaping body, and further includes an automatic conduction detection device independent of the target part, where the automatic conduction detection device includes a contact part and an external current monitoring apparatus electrically connected with the contact part, the contact part is disposed on a moving path of the target part, and the contact part forms a circuit with the external current monitoring apparatus after being in contact with the target part. Since the automatic conduction detection device and target assembly are independently disposed and no hard-wired connection of electric wires exists, the current of the target can be read in real time under full automation, and the automatic replacement, movement and storage of the target can be achieved.

A target current monitoring device for a boron neutron capture therapy system includes a beam current shaping body and a replaceable target part disposed inside a proton channel of the beam current shaping body, and further includes an automatic conduction detection device independent of the target part, where the automatic conduction detection device includes a contact part and an external current monitoring apparatus electrically connected with the contact part, the contact part is disposed on a moving path of the target part, and the contact part forms a circuit with the external current monitoring apparatus after being in contact with the target part. Since the automatic conduction detection device and target assembly are independently disposed and no hard-wired connection of electric wires exists, the current of the target can be read in real time under full automation, and the automatic replacement, movement and storage of the target can be achieved.

Metallic bodies are provided having a lithium layer and a metallic substrate. The metallic bodies can exhibit increased resistance to radiation-induced deformations such as blistering. Methods are provided for transitioning the metallic bodies into more blister resistant configurations, as our methods for diminishing or eliminating blisters previously formed. Systems for utilizing the metallic bodies and methods are also disclosed.