Instrumentation Improvement of a Laboratory Course for Senior Physics Majors

这个项目是在现有的核实验室课程中增加一个固态光子探测器系统，这门课程是为物理专业的高年级学生所要求的。将该仪器纳入高中课程的原因是：(1)由于其良好的能量分辨率和负担得起的成本，它现在是一种广泛使用的、往往是首选的光子探测器。(2)使学生学习“质子诱导X射线发射”(PIXE)技术，实现痕量元素的无损检测。这项技术补充了卢瑟福背散射(RBS)和中子活化分析(NAA)的另两项重要的非破坏性分析技术，这两项技术已经在课程中教授。(3)与现有的NaL(Tl)光子探测系统一起，让学生学习通过伽马-伽马符合测量确定放射源绝对活度的技术。(4)学生学习使用快速计时电子学和符合技术，并对基于PC的多道分析仪进行编程。增加拟议的设备使这门课程基本上完成了学习辐射测量技术和入门应用核技术的课程。NSF的赠款资金正在与非联邦来源的资金相匹配。

This project is adding a solid-state photon detector-system to an existing nuclear laboratory course reguired for senior physics majors. Reasons for integrating this instrument into the senior course are:(1) It is now a widely used and often preferred photon detector because of its good energy resolution and affordable cost. (2) It enables the students to learn the technigue of "Proton Induced X-ray Emission" (PIXE) for non- destructive trace element detection. This technique supplements Rutherford backscattering (RBS) and Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) another two important non-destructive analytical techniques which are already taught in the course. (3) Together with the existing Nal(Tl) photon detection system, it allows the students to learn the technique of determining the absolute activity of a radioactive source by gamma-gamma coincidence measurement. (4) Students learn to use fast-timing electronics and coincidence techniques, and to program PC-based multichannel analyzers. The addition of the proposed equipment makes this course essentially complete for learning radiation measurement techniques and introductory applied nuclear technologies. NSF grant funds are being matched with funds from non-federal sources.