Assets Available to Radiological Sciences
Our diverse research assets are available for use by students, faculty, staff and external collaborators.
Radiation Lab: Accelerator
The 5.5MV Van De Graaff particle accelerator allows for neutron and proton beam studies as well as proton induced X-ray emission, Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy, Ion-beam implantation, mono-energetic neutron beams, as well as a micro beam, ends station, and sample changer for sample activation and analysis. Learn more on the Radiation Laboratory website.
Radiation Lab: Reactor
Nuclear Reactor: the 1 million-watt swimming pool style nuclear reactor can be used for incore and external beam research. Applications include neutron damage to electronics for space applications, Radiation hardening of materials (compounds, metals, plastics, etc.), digital neutron imaging, detector development and proving, new dosimetry modalities, shielding studies, etc. Neutron fluxes up to 2.5E13 n/cms-sec and external beams up to 1500 rem/hr neutron dose rate. Learn more on the Radiation Laboratory website.
Nitrogen-16 Gamma source: with water rich in N-16 photons pumped through an 18” disk, researchers conduct research on the high energy photons typically found in power reactor fields such as, detector development, proving, handling, safety, etc..
Cobalt irradiations: Various strength source provide fields for research in radiation damage, paint applications, polymer science, detector development, and much more. Radiation levels vary from 360 mrem/hr-1 million rad/hr and for small samples, 2 million rad/hr.
Small Animal Imaging lab (SAI)
The Small Animal Imaging lab (SAI) consists of imaging modalities such as MRI, CT, PET/CT, SPECT/CT, Optical Imaging AMI-HT, and Spectral CT. These imaging scanners allow in vivo rodent and material imaging for applications in Life Science, Biomedical and preclinical research, such as drug biodistribution, cancer therapeutic assessment radiopharmaceutical research, etc.
Health Physics Lab
The Health Physics lab contains detection systems, radon and airborne particulate sampling, shielding assessments, and source use. Commonly used to explore the radiation protection levels of shielding, regulations, internal dosimetry, soil analysis, etc.
X-ray Irradiations
This x-ray irradiation lab is capable of delivering photon dose rates of 100rad/min (60krad/hr). Typical uses are cell irradiation and radioprotector or mitigator studies, or use of the photon beam for other dose investigations.
Radiochemistry and Nuclear Forensics Lab
A state-of-the-art separations lab with capabilities of radiochemistry to determine new separation techniques. Research may include separations of isotopes to allow for recycling of radioactive material into novel cancer treatments. Also identification of unknown special nuclear materials found in weapons via nuclear forensics.
Nuclear Instrumentation Lab
Students will have access to cutting-edge detection to understand the basics of detection and advanced detection using equipment such as Geiger Mueller, Scintillation, Proportional, Alpha and Gamma spectroscopy detectors.
Calibration Range
NIST traceable open beam calibration facility containing Cs-137 dose rate exposures up to 100rem/hr. Typical uses are detector calibration, development, energy response, etc. or shielding studies. Also available are NIST traceable neutron dose rates up to 25mrem/hr.
Radiation Safety Office
The Radiation Safety Office offers experiential learning of the field. Internships and paid opportunities exist to learn and work in the safety office conducting typical routine Health Physics such as training, detector calibrations, radiation assessments, inventory, dosimetry, shipping, waste, and much more.
Securities Connections and Drill support
Our staff and students periodically support and work with first responder in training exercises by providing realistic scenarios and radiations so they can test and train with their equipment and practice their response. We have helped, on many occasions, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), local and state police, State HAZMAT, fire, hospital, ambulance, Department Of Homeland Security (DHS), National Guard, and much more.
Nuclear Application and Nuclear Data Group
The Nuclear Application and Nuclear Data Group features advanced detection capabilities, such as the Mixed Array of Detectors (MAD), this lab probes the nuclide structures and observes their emissions with high precision. This lab is also implementing remote detector operations for off-campus operations and high school labs.
Material Characterization Lab
The Characterizations Lab contains equipment such as Scanning Electron Microscope, X-ray diffraction system, and more. These can be used to characterize nano-engineered materials, photonics, biomaterials, verify chemical separations, etc.
Integrated Nuclear Security and Safeguards Lab
The Integrated Nuclear Security and Safeguards Lab promotes the development of research, education, and training tools that support a wide range of global nuclear security and safeguards.