X- and Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy: A Unique Opportunity in Science at York College and CUNY
Abstract
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, under authority of 10 U.S.C. ยค 2362 and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OASD(R&E)), allocated $28 million to assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) with equipment and instrumentation enhancements to improve their research and education capabilities in scientific disciplines important to the defense mission. The program aims enhance the capacity of HBCU/MI to participate broadly in defense research programs and activities and to increase the number of graduates, including underrepresented minorities, in fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). We request funds to purchase a single major research instrument: a High Purity Germanium (HPGe) Gamma Ray spectrometer. These devices are used to measure the photon energy spectrum emitted in nuclear events, including radioactive decays, nuclide finger printing, hadron interactions in particle physics experiments, and the muon and pion nuclear capture processes. There are a number of different technologies employed in gamma spectroscopy, including organic and inorganic crystal scintillators, and solid state detectors based on silicon or germanium. The main benefit of germanium over competing technologies - and our primary reason for selecting one of these devices for our needs - is the excellent intrinsic energy resolution. This is mainly a consequence of the high purity and large dimensions of modern single crystals. Our expected initial uses fall into three broad categories: 1. Support our current research program funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research on threat detection using cosmic ray muons. 2. Support our current research program funded by the Department of Energy s Office of High Energy Physics on the Mu2e Experiment. 3. Support our advanced undergraduate students academic training. We expect that additional research users will be identified in other scientific disciplines (both inside the College and in the greater CUNY system) upon the availability of the equipment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1610509
Entities
People
- James Popp
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- York College