Nuclear processes and measurement for radiation detection. The study of static and dynamic properties of nuclei constitutes a first essential step in the comprehension and exploitation of Nuclear Science. Starting from the experimental evidence of radioactivity, the course will explore: the physical and the random nature of radioactive decay and nuclear reactions; the experimental methods and detector technologies to measure radiations produced by nuclear processes.
To better explore the topic, we will enter in POLIMI Labs to look at the working principles of the detectors employed in gamma-ray spectrometry. Also, we will see how nuclear reactions can be exploited to detect the presence of neutrons and to measure their energy.
Finally, we will see the main procedures used in radiochemistry to perform destructive analysis, useful When nuclei are hard to measure.
The course is structured in 4 main weeks.
Week 1 – Intro to nuclear processes
Week 2 – Principles of radiation detection
Week 3 – Hard-to-Measure radionuclides
Week 4 – Welcome to nuclear Labs
The weeks have different lessons within them, consisting of videos, quizzes, completed by additional materials and resources. These last allow you to reach a level of detail greater in some topics of your interest.
In particular, Week 1 will specifically address radioactivity in the time domain, radioactive decays and related properties, nuclear reactions and cross section.
In Week 2 will focus on both Gamma-matter interaction and detectors, and Neutron sources and detectors.
Week 3 will focus on Radiological characterization which is of paramount importance for nuclear safeguards and specifically on how to determine Hard-to-Measure radionuclides.
Week 4 opens the door to some Laboratories of Politecnico di Milano which deals with nuclear measurements, gamma spectrometry, Radiochemistry and Radiation Chemistry.
