Educational Activities at the
USNA 5SDH-1
JR Vanhoy, F.D. Correll, J.H.Huddle,
D.M.Moore
J.R.Vanhoy, F.D.Correll,
J.H.Huddle, D.M.Moore
Outline
• Background
– USNA
– Students
• Equipment
– Instrumentation Lab
– Accelerator Lab
• Uses
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SP434 Nuclear Physics Course
Physics Major Research
Oceanography Capstone Projects
External Contacts
Background: USNA
Background: Students
• Technical Core
• Professional Training
• ~Std Physics Major Pgm
• All advanced physics courses
have 2 hour labs
Equipment: Pelletron 5SDH-1
Equipment: Pelletron 5SDH-1
Equipment: Pelletron 5SDH-1
Equipment: Pelletron 5SDH-1
Equipment: Pelletron 5SDH-1
Equipment: Pelletron 5SDH-1
Equipment: Pelletron 5SDH-1
Equipment: Pelletron 5SDH-1
Equipment: Pelletron 5SDH-1
Usage: Nuclear Physics Course
• Instrumentation – 6 weeks
– NaI and DAQ Layout
– HpGe Detectors
– Compton Scattering
– g-g Coincidence
• Accelerator – 6-8 weeks
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Parts is parts
Accelerator Operations
PIXE
Coulomb Excitation
P + 12C Resonances
P + 27Al Resonance – oxide layers
RBS
Usage: Nuclear Physics Course
• NaI and DAQ Layout
– Week One
• NaI Response Function
• NIM & CAMAC Module discussion
– Week Two
• “Oops, someone broke in and dismantled all the
equipment”
Usage: Nuclear Physics Course
• HpGe Detector
–
152Eu
Spectrum
• Odd-odd nucleus: 2-mode decay
• Practice using “Table of Isotopes”
– Fiestaware Plate – 238U decay scheme
• Practice using “Wall Chart” and “Table of Isotopes”
• Reasons behind a vs b vs g decay
• Data for later HW on a particle penetrabilities
Usage: Nuclear Physics Course
• Accelerator Operations
– Students learn to drive
– Experience with ion optics
Usage: Nuclear Physics Course
Usage: Nuclear Physics Course
Usage: Nuclear Physics Course
• Optimum Number of Students = 2
• Jobs
– Driver
– Data acquisition
– Analysis
• 1 experiment can be run all day
• MUST review whole experiment next day in class
Usage: Nuclear Physics Course
• Gleanings
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mix practical skills & book smarts
2 students per lab class (maybe 3)
Divide jobs, promote independent/team work
“You found it, You fix it”
Problems are educational experiences too
2 instructors per lab
Usage: Nuclear Physics Course
• Coulomb Excitation
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p + 181Ta
“determine nuclear shape: Q”
energy loss by projectiles dE/dx
detector efficiency, solid angles,…
approximations
• 181Ta is not even-even
• Use proton xs instead of g production xs
• Ignore angular dependance
p
181Ta
L=2
7/2+
181Ta
p
d
( p' ;180o )
d
ref : Jelley '90
181Ta
measure g
at 90o
evaluated Q = 3.3 b
expt’l values = 6 - 9 b
90
120
30
150
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
8.5
C
D
60
180
0
330
210
240
300
270
Usage: Nuclear Physics Course
• p + 12C resonances
– Week One
• Chamber setup and configuration
• Thin target prep
• SB detectors: ground loops & noise
– Week Two
0.5
0.4
Carbon Yield
• Resonance vs Rutherford
• Spin and Lifetimes
B
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
p Energy (MeV)
2.0
2.1
Usage: Nuclear Physics Course
• p + 27Al
997-keV Resonance
– Fine points of Accelerator operation:
• Feedback systems
• Particle trajectories
– surprise measurement of Oxide layers
needle
Slits
GVM
CPO
}
~100 nm
Usage: Physics Major Research
• Topics:
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Development of Ion Microprobe
Fourier Analysis of Feedback System
Multiparameter DAQ Using Kmax
Development of Scanning Ion Milliprobe
2-D Elemental Mapping Using RBS
Feasibility Study for Isotopic Analysis
Usage: Oceanography Capstone
Projects
P.A. Rona, National Geographic v182, 105 (1992)
Usage: Oceanography Capstone
Projects
• Gleanings
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Students not sure what they want to discover
Difficult to control quality of final product
Provides opportunity for YOU to learn
Typically low yield projects
Usage: External Contacts
• Professional
– Anthropology & Archeology
– Assays
• Public Service
– “meteorites”
Usage: Public Service
Usage: Public Service
“Meteorites”
Summary
• HELP!
Assistant Professor
Inquiries may be sent via e-mail to search@nadn.navy.mil
Search updates will be posted on
http://www.usna.edu/JobInfo/.
Search Committee, Physics Department,
U.S. Naval Academy,572 Holloway Road,
Annapolis, MD 21402-5026