The MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory
Three experiments:- Neutron Beam
Demonstration of Half Thickness or Shielding Effectiveness in a Neutron Beam. The objective of this experiment is to demonstrate thermal neutron behavior in the presence of various absorption materials. The experiment utilizes a 4" beamport which provides a continuous beam of low-energy neutrons that is controlled using a mechanical chopper. Students are asked to calculate neutron flux and neutron density using the data gathered from the neutron detectors. Then, the students are asked to position standard pieces of lead, boron, cadmium, and aluminum prior to the neutron detectors in the beam guide tube. They perform another round of measurements. Based on the data collected, students are asked to calculate the half-thickness (or shielding effectiveness) of various materials.
- Maxwell Boltzmann Distribution
Measurement of the Maxwell Boltzmann Distribution of Thermal Neutrons from the MIT Research Reactor (MITR). The objective of this experiment is to correlate the temperature of the reactor with the availability of thermal neutrons for measurement, and then to compare the results with the Maxwell Boltzmann distribution that is predicted. The experiment utilizes a 4" beamport which provides a continuous beam of low-energy neutrons that is controlled using a mechanical chopper. Students are asked to perform measurements at two points in the beam guide tube using neutron detectors, multi-channel analyzers, and oscilloscopes. Students plot the data they gather and attempt to calculate thermal neutron velocity and flux density.
- Bragg Diffraction and the DeBroglie Wavelength
Demonstration of Bragg Diffraction and the DeBroglie Wavelength. The objective of this experiment is to demonstrate neutron diffraction using a crystal monochromater. The experiment utilizes a 4" beamport which provides a continuous beam of low-energy neutrons that is controlled using a mechanical chopper. Students are asked to measure the Bragg-diffracted beam that is created by altering the neutron beam path with a copper crystal. They perform several measurements at various angles of incidence, and are asked to plot their data to demonstrate the DeBroglie relation.
WebsiteMeeting Notes Date | Whom | Description | Link | Nov 6, 2007 | Kirky DeLong | Meeting Notes | Notes | Jan 15, 2008 | Kirky DeLong | Meeting Notes | Notes | Feb 5, 2008 | Kirky DeLong | Meeting Notes | Notes | Feb 21, 2008 | Kirky DeLong | Meeting Notes | Notes |
Documents and Materials Description | Link | Reactor Experiment Write-up | DOC | Introduction to Nuclear Power | PDF | American Nuclear Society Meeting Presentation, July 2007 | PDF | Images | Images | Time of Flight Experiment notes | DOC | Remote Use Introductory Lesson Only notes | DOC |
- Judy Maro (jmaro@mit.edu)
- Gordon Kohse (kohse@mit.edu)
- Yakov Ostrovsky (yakov@mit.edu)
- Raymond Ma (rayma@mit.edu)
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