Instrumentation Improvement of a Laboratory Course for Senior Physics Majors

该项目将增加一个固态光子探测器系统， 现有的核实验室课程， 物理专业。将本文书纳入《公约》的理由 高级课程有：（1）它现在是一个广泛使用，经常 由于其良好的能量分辨率， 和负担得起的成本。 (2)它使学生能够学习 质子感生X射线发射（PIXE）技术 破坏性微量元素检测 这种技术 补充卢瑟福背散射（RBS）和中子 活化分析（NAA）的另两个重要的非破坏性 分析技术，这已经在课程中教授。 (3)与现有的NaI（Tl）光子探测一起， 系统，它允许学生学习的技术， 确定放射源的绝对活度， 伽马-伽马符合测量 (4)学生学会 使用快速定时电子和重合技术，并 编程基于PC的多通道分析仪。 的加入 建议的设备使本课程基本完成， 学习辐射测量技术和介绍 应用核技术。 NSF基金会正在 与非联邦资金来源相匹配。

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.