Javier Balibrea CorreaJ. Balibrea

Javier Balibrea Correa

Nuclear Physicist

I am an experimental nuclear physicist with a keen interest in neutron-induced cross sections relevant to nuclear astrophysics, ion range verification in medical applications, and the application of machine learning techniques.

s-processNeutron CaptureAlpha Induced ReactionDetector DevelopmentHadron-range Verification

Projects and Contracts as PI

Projects where I hold significant leadership or technical roles

APRENDE-BINGO

Core Physics

IP: J. Balibrea • Location: IFIC • 01/10/2023 - 01/10/2026 • Amount: 20.000 €

“209Bi(n,ɣ) cross section measurement at n_TOF” (HORIZON-EUROATOM-2023-NRT-01-06)

Responsibility: Principal Investigator of the project.

P. GVA-DETCom

Applied Science

IP: J. Balibrea & A. Algora • Location: IFIC • 01/09/2022 - 01/09/2025 • Amount: 299.586,5 €

“Detectores complementarios modulares de nueva generación” (ASFAE/2022/027)

Responsibility: Principal Investigator of the project.

C. SISTAM

Core Physics

IP: J. Balibrea • Location: IFIC • 15/04/2024 - 15/04/2025 • Amount: 21.000 €

“Sistema Avanzado de Monitorización de Infraestructuras Civiles”

Responsibility: Principal Investigator of the research contract.

C. SISTAM

Core Physics

IP: J. Balibrea • Location: IFIC • 15/04/2025 - 15/04/2026 • Amount: 6.000 €

“Sistema Avanzado de Monitorización Disruptivo de Infraestructuras Civiles” (Cocrea 2024)

Responsibility: Principal Investigator of the R&D contract.

Main Scientific Contributions

I have actively participated in several interrelated topics within international scientific collaborations such as n_TOF, LUNA, and MANY

Time-of-flight (n,γ) Cross-section Measurements Relevant to the s- and r- Astrophysical Processes an...

(⍺,n) Cross-section Measurements Relevant to the s- Astrophysical Process

Hadron Range Verification for Real-time In-beam Treatment Monitoring

Approved Experiments

Experiments in large experimental facilities as spokesperson

2025

45Sc(n,p) cross section measurement

back-n W2025081400008

2025

STAR detector for neutron-capture

n_TOF EAR2 CERN-INTC-2025-045

2025

Transmission measurements on Nb

GELINA NBLINA

2023

High precision 209Bi(n,γ) cross section

n_TOF EAR2 CERN-INTC-2023-061

2023

Solid-state total-energy detectors

CERN n_TOF CERN-INTC-2023-034

2020

94Nb(n,γ) cross-section

CERN-INTC-2020-062

Experiments Leads In Medical Physics

Lead experiments in the medical applications field: Proton range verification & Hybrid imaging

2024

PGI-PET for proton range verification

Reading-UK (IBA proteus one)

2024

PGI-PET for proton range verification

WPE (IBA proteus-plus)

2020

Hybrid compton-PET for ion-range

HIT (Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy)

2020

First hybrid PET Compton experiment

CNA (Centro Nacional de Aceleradores)

Research & Publications

Significant contributions to scientific knowledge

C.1. Most Relevant Publications

(1/11-AC) J. Balibrea-Correa et al., EPJ-P 140, 870 (2025). Proof-of-concept experiment results from PET-PGI hybrid system using protons, C, and alpha ions at HIT.
(1/136-AC) J. Balibrea-Correa et al., NIM-A 1072, 17010 (2025). Design and commissioning of the high sensitivity (n,γ) experimental setup at n_TOF EAR2.
(1/135-AC) J. Balibrea-Correa et al., NIM-A 1064, 169385 (2024). New methodology for dead time and pile-up corrections for Pulse Height Weighting technique.
(1/135-AC) J. Balibrea-Correa et al., EPJ WoC 279, 06004 (2023). Partial experimental results from the first measurement of 94Nb(n,γ) cross-section.
(2/5) J. Lerendegui, J. Balibrea-Correa et al., NSR 12, 2735 (2022). Feasibility MC study of real-time proton range verification via Prompt-γ imaging using Compton Cameras.
(1/8-AC) J. Balibrea-Correa et al., EPJ-P 137, 1258 (2022). First in-beam hybrid Compton/PET setup for hadron range verification.
(1/135-AC) J. Balibrea-Correa et al., NIM-A 958, 164709 (2021). First C6D6 read using SiPM prototype for (n,γ) cross-section measurements.
(1/8-AC) J. Balibrea-Correa et al., NIM-A 1001, 16249 (2021). Development of position reconstruction algorithms in large monolithic LaCl3(Ce) read by SiPM matrix aided by ML algorithms.
(1/8-AC) J. Balibrea-Correa et al., 2021 IEEE NSS/MIC 1 (2021). Development of ML algorithms to enhance Prompt-γ signal and background suppression.
(1/135) J. Balibrea-Correa et al., PRC 102, 044615 (2020). Experimental results from 235U(n,γ) cross-section at n_TOF.
(1/8-AC) J. Balibrea-Correa et al., NIM-A 906, 103 (2018). Development of a novel pulse shape discrimination algorithm for high pressure 3He counters.

C.2. Conferences

Nuclear Data for Science and Technology (2025):“First 94Nb(n,γ) cross-section measurement at CERN n_TOF”
9th ANIMMA (2025):“Hybrid Compton/PGI imaging for ion range monitoring in hadron therapy”
EURO-LABS 3rd Annual Meeting (2024):“High precision 209Bi(n,γ) cross-section measurement at n_TOF EAR2”
Applied Nuclear Physics (2024):“Radiotracers for Marine and Oceanic Ecosystems. REMO project”
IV RSEF/IFIMED Medical Physics (2023):“First hybrid Compton-PET for ion-range monitoring in hadron therapy”
Nuclear Physics in Astrophysics X (2022):“First measurement of the 94Nb neutron capture cross-section at CERN n_TOF”
IEEE NSS/MIC (2021):“Hadron Therapy Range Verification via ML-Aided Prompt-Gamma Imaging”
Applied Nuclear Physics Conference (2021):“First in-beam tests on simultaneous PET & Compton imaging for quasi-real-time range verification”
27th International Nuclear Physics Conference (2019):“Direct cross-section measurement of 13C(α,n)16O in the s-process Gamow peak”
Nuclear Data for Science and Technology (2016):“Measurement of 235U neutron capture cross-section with n_TOF total absorption calorimeter”

Professional experience

Professional Background in Research and Teaching