The Applied Radiation Sciences Laboratory

Under the direct supervision of the Dean of College, Dr. Lewis, the Applied Radiation Sciences Laboratory at SCSU has been built up and is ready for lab training courses and for scientific research.

 

The SCSU Applied Radiation Sciences Laboratory is equipped with brand new state-of-art nuclear detectors and instruments. Most of the spectroscopy detectors are coupled with Genie 2000 spectrometry software. Multiple sets of GM and NaI(Tl) detectors are installed so that every student will have experience in operating the detectors and measuring radioactive samples. With the facilities and the expertise of our faculty, the students will learn the basic skills in modern nuclear instrumentation for nuclear sciences and radiochemistry. The major instruments we have are listed below:

 

· Nine sets of Saint-Gobain Crystals N210/NBC Geiger-Muller tubes coupled with Spectrum ST360 Radiation Counters

The Spectrum Techniques ST360 Radiation Counter represents the latest technology in benchtop nuclear counters. It can operate as a stand-alone benchtop instrument or may be controlled by a computer for remote operation and data storage.  ST360 features many improvements and additions to enhance application and flexibility for Nuclear Science instruction, Nuclear Medicine and Health Physics training. In addition to supporting many types of GM counters the instrument now includes an internal preamplifier and improved high voltage supply to operate scintillation detectors as a gamma counter for wipe testing and other gross gamma measurements.

 

· Nine sets of Canberra NaI(Tl) detectors operated by Genie-2000 system

The Model 802 Scintillation Detector is a hermetically sealed assembly which includes a high resolution NaI(Tl) crystal, a photomultiplier tube, an internal magnetic/light shield, an aluminum housing, and a 14-pin connector.

The 802 series of NaI(Tl) detectors provides high efficiency and uniform response on both the cylindrical and well configurations. These detectors have a proven record of long term reliability and stability.

 

· A Canberra Germanium detector for gamma-spectrometry

Lead shield Model: 707

Cryostat Model: 7903SL (with Cryolectrical II)

Preamplifier Model: 2002C

Detector Model: GC1019

Bias Voltage: (+)2000 V

Detector geometry: closed-end coaxial

Relative Efficiency: 10% (at 1332 keV by Co-60)

Amplifier time constant: 4 micro sec  

 

· A Canberra Alpha analyzer for alpha-spectrometry

Dual Alpha Spectrometer Module

Detector Efficiency: >25% for detector-source spacing < 10 mm

Recoil Suppression: +5 V Bias Suppression Volts

System operation system: Alpha Analyst Software, Genie 2000

 

· Two Triathler portable 425-034 Liquid Scintillation Counters

PMT voltage: 1034 V

Counting efficiency: H-3: 42%, C-14: 87%

Counting window: H-3: 30-120 keV, C-14: 50-900 keV 

 

· A Perkin-Elmer Tri-Carb© 2900 liquid scintillation analyzer operating with QuantaSmart instrument software

The Tri-Carb® 2900TR liquid scintillation counter is an advanced Spectra-based computer-controlled benchtop liquid scintillation analyzer for detecting small amounts of alpha, beta and gamma radioactivity for research and environmental monitoring.

 

 

In addition, the Radiation Lab is also equipped with various health physics instruments, such as 9 Eberline and Ludium radiation monitors for radiation safety survey, 5 Canberra Radiagem 400 portable dose rate meters for alpha, beta and gamma survey, and 1 Eberline personal contamination monitor (Eberline PCM 1-B) for whole-body radiation survey. The health physics instruments are useful for teaching the safety policy and practices in the radiation sciences. By learning and operating the instrumentation, the students will gain an understanding on how the nuclear workers keep a physically healthy work environment while working with nuclear radiation, and how the nuclear sciences protect the natural environments from being contaminated by radioactive materials.

Canberra scintillation detector NaI(Tl) Model 802-2x2

Perkin-Elmer Tri-Carb© 2900 Liquid Scintillation Analyzer 

Spectrum© ST 360 Radiation Counter System and the Saint-Gobain Crystals N210/NBC G-M detector

Canberra Lead Shield Model 707 for the Ge Detector

Triathler Portable Liquid Scintillation Counter

Canberra Alpha Analyst Spectroscopy System

Eberline RO-20 beta/gamma monitor (Min. detectable level 0.2 mrem/hr)

Ludlum Model 3 with Geiger-Muller pancake probe (Min. detectable level 1000 dpm/probe area)