Experience in the utilisation of a university reactor in education and research
by Ayman I. Hawari
International Journal of Nuclear Knowledge Management (IJNKM), Vol. 4, No. 2, 2010

Abstract: During the 1980s and 1990s, the utility of university reactors in education and research became questionable. This result may be attributed to several factors, including the decline of programmatic funding for such facilities, the lack of technical personnel who are able to utilise these reactors, and the general apathy towards nuclear engineering education. Recently, nuclear power has reemerged as a viable global source of reliable and environmentally friendly power. Therefore a resurgence of nuclear engineering education and research has been initiated worldwide. At North Carolina State University (NCSU), the Nuclear Reactor Program has initiated an ambitious plan for developing a state-of-the-art reactor-based centre for the nondestructive examination of materials. This centre is based on unique tools that utilise the radiation emanating from the core of the 1-MW PULSTAR reactor as a probe of matter. Facilities to perform neutron imaging and neutron powder diffraction have been developed and are currently operational. An intense low-energy positron beam is in advanced stages of testing and operation. In addition, an Ultracold Neutron source is in the construction stage. All these projects engaged undergraduate and graduate students, which has resulted in an excellent educational and research experience for a new generation of students.

Online publication date: Mon, 29-Mar-2010

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Nuclear Knowledge Management (IJNKM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com