Undergraduate Measurements of Neutron Scattering Cross Sections

1. Undergraduate Measurements of Neutron Scattering Cross Sections S. F. Hicks Department of Physics, University of Dallas, Irving, Texas 75062 USA In collaboration with Jeff Vanhoy Department of Physics, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland 21402 USA and Steve Yates and Marcus McEllistrem Departments of Chemistry and Physics & Astronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506 USA U. Dallas, U. KY, and USNA Collaboration Research funded by Department of Energy through Grant # NEUP: NU-12-KY-UK-0201-05 ARUNA 2014

2. The University of Dallas - • A Catholic Liberal Arts University in Irving, TX • 1380 Undergraduate Students • 40-42 Physics Majors • Limited In-House Facilities for Research. • The Physics Department Faculty: • Dr. R. Olenick -Physics Education/Astronomy • Dr. J. Moldenhauer –Astrophysics and Cosmology • Dr. S. Hicks – Experimental Nuclear Physics ARUNA 2014

3. Undergraduate Research at the University of Dallas: • B.S. requires a research project, an undergraduate thesis, and a talk at a professional meeting (56/60 B.S. in last 10 years) • Outside research a necessity for students to fulfill the research requirement, e.g., NEUP research at the University of Kentucky. Leslie Sidwell and Brett Combs 2012 Luke Kersting 2010

4. Elastic /Inelastic Measurement Project • Part of the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI) to develop safe, clean, and affordable energy sources. Goals of Gen IV: Safer Sustainable Economical Physically Secure http://www.gen-4.org/Technology/evolution.htm • Critical need for high-precision and accurate elastic and inelastic neutron scattering data on materials important for fission reactor technology. Once obtained the data are sent to data evaluators. • Critical need for trained individuals. (NEUP initiative puts undergraduate students on the right pathway to becoming scientists and engineers.) ARUNA 2014

5. Inelastic Neutron Scattering • Student Projects: • Participate in measurements at UKAL • Analyze data sets, e.g., two or more angular distributions of elastically and inelastically scattered neutrons and a detector efficiency Fe* <http://nuclearpowertraining.tpub.com/h1019v1/css/h1019v1_69.htm.> Energy Loss Mechanism Solid line is ENDF model calculations Relative Detector Efficiency 54Fe at En=3.0 MeV

6. University of Dallas students have participated in nuclear structure and neutron scattering measurements at UKAL since 1990. Advantages: • Students participate in all aspects of the measurements. • A much better teaching environment than going to a more traditional user facility, e.g., the PSI. • Projects are manageable in 10 weeks in the summer. ARUNA 2014

7. University of Kentucky Modified Model CN VDG. Experiments at the University of Kentucky provide students with many hands-on opportunities, including working on the accelerator. Aaron French – ACS National Nuclear Summer School, NEUP Undergraduate Scholarship, U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association's National All-Academic Team. Zach Santonil – EE U. of Notre Dame in Fall 2015. ARUNA 2014

8. Statistics of Student Participants (18 years of funding- 31 students) ARUNA 2014

9. Conclusions • UKAL is an excellent environment for undergraduate research • Hands-on opportunities • 84% of students have attained a Ph.D., M.S., or M.D. ARUNA 2014