Transcript Sally Hicks
Undergraduate Measurements of Neutron Scattering Cross Sections S. F. Hicks Department of Physics, University of Dallas, Irving, Texas 75062 USA In collaboration with Jeff Vanhoy Department of Physics, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland 21402 USA and Steve Yates and Marcus McEllistrem Departments of Chemistry and Physics & Astronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506 USA U. Dallas, U. KY, and USNA Collaboration Research funded by Department of Energy through Grant # NEUP: NU-12-KY-UK-0201-05 ARUNA 2014 The University of Dallas - • A Catholic Liberal Arts University in Irving, TX • 1380 Undergraduate Students • 40-42 Physics Majors • Limited In-House Facilities for Research. The Physics Department Faculty: • Dr. R. Olenick -Physics Education/Astronomy • Dr. J. Moldenhauer –Astrophysics and Cosmology • Dr. S. Hicks – Experimental Nuclear Physics ARUNA 2014 Undergraduate Research at the University of Dallas: • B.S. requires a research project, an undergraduate thesis, and a talk at a professional meeting (56/60 B.S. in last 10 years) • Outside research a necessity for students to fulfill the research requirement, e.g., NEUP research at the University of Kentucky. Luke Kersting 2010 Leslie Sidwell and Brett Combs 2012 Elastic /Inelastic Measurement Project Part of the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI) to develop safe, clean, and affordable energy sources. Goals of Gen IV: i) Safer ii) Sustainable iii) Economical iv) Physically Secure http://www.gen-4.org/Technology/evolution.htm Critical need for high-precision and accurate elastic and inelastic neutron scattering data on materials important for fission reactor technology. Once obtained the data are sent to data evaluators. Critical need for trained individuals. (NEUP initiative puts undergraduate students on the right pathway to becoming scientists and engineers.) ARUNA 2014 Inelastic Neutron Scattering Fe* <http://nuclearpowertraining.tpub.com/h 1019v1/css/h1019v1_69.htm.> Student Projects: • Participate in measurements at UKAL • Analyze data sets, e.g., two or more angular distributions of elastically and inelastically scattered neutrons and a detector efficiency Energy Loss Mechanism Relative Detector Efficiency Solid line is ENDF model calculations 54Fe at En=3.0 MeV University of Dallas students have participated in nuclear structure and neutron scattering measurements at UKAL since 1990. Advantages: • Students participate in all aspects of the measurements. • A much better teaching environment than going to a more traditional user facility, e.g., the PSI. • Projects are manageable in 10 weeks in the summer. ARUNA 2014 University of Kentucky Modified Model CN VDG. Experiments at the University of Kentucky provide students with many hands-on opportunities, including working on the accelerator. Aaron French – ACS National Nuclear Summer School, NEUP Undergraduate Scholarship, U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association's National All-Academic Team. ARUNA 2014 Zach Santonil – EE U. of Notre Dame in Fall 2015. Statistics of Student Participants (18 years of funding- 31 students) Advanced Degrees (3 students are double counted) Number Percentage Physics Ph.D. (Ohio State, UTD, Nebraska, Wash U,) 4 12.9 Physics Ph.D. or Ph.D. Candidate (Vanderbilt, ?, ?) 7 22.6 Engineering Ph.D. (Michigan) 1 03.2 Engineering Ph.D. Candidate (Notre Dame, Princeton, TX Tech, Wisconsin,?,?) 6 19.4 Total Ph.D. 5 16.1 Total Ph.D. or Ph.D. Candidate 13 41.9 Terminal Masters (UNC, Syracuse, UTD, Chicago, Penn State, Hartford ) 6 19.4 Industry 5 16.1 Physicians or Physician Candidate 7 22.6 High School Teachers 3 09.7 Total Advanced Physics or Engineering Degrees or Degree Candidates 19 61.2 Total Advanced Degrees or Degree Candidates 26 83.9 ARUNA 2014 Conclusions • UKAL is an excellent environment for undergraduate research • Hands-on opportunities • 84% of students have attained a Ph.D., M.S., or M.D. ARUNA 2014