Research
Enabling Discovery Through Nuclear Research CapabilitiesAdvancing nuclear science through reactor‑based capabilities that enable isotope production, materials testing, neutron activation analysis, and gamma irradiation studies. Its research supports diverse applications—from engineering and agriculture to environmental science—providing the high‑flux neutron and gamma fields needed for innovation, discovery, and practical problem‑solving across academic and industry partners.
Research Capabilities
Nuclear reactors are unique in their ability to deliver a large amount of neutrons to a sample. The most common use of these neutrons is to transmutate a stable isotope into a radioactive isotope either for research, trace elemental analysis, or isotope production purposes.
Another unique property of nuclear reactors is the intense gamma radiation emitted from the core, which is unmatched by most other sources. Many things — from the sterilization of medical tools to the study of radiation effects on electronic components — can be accomplished with gamma radiation.
The Nuclear Engineering & Science Center is a large source of neutrons and gamma radiation, but there are many different options for delivering these types of radiation to a sample.
TRIGA Reactor
Facilities
NESC’s facilities include the 1‑MW TRIGA reactor, a radiochemistry lab for handling high‑activity samples, a neutron activation and counting lab with HPGe detectors and advanced spectroscopy tools, and on‑site electronics and machine shops. These resources support isotope production, materials testing, analytical measurements, and hands‑on research for students, faculty, and industry partners.
TRIGA Reactor
The centerpiece of the Nuclear Engineering & Science Center is a 1 megawatt TRIGA (Testing, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics) reactor, an open “swimming pool”-type research reactor cooled by natural convection, providing passive and inherent safety.
Radiochemistry Lab
The radiochemistry lab has a handling cell to allow for remote handling of highly radioactive samples, a glove box for handling lower level samples in a contained environment, and several fume hoods.
Neutron Activation Analysis and Counting Lab
Samples may be quickly transferred between the reactor and the counting laboratory through a pneumatic transfer system. The counting lab contains four high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors, as well as advanced gamma spectroscopy software for trace isotope identification, which allows for analysis down to parts per million (ppm) and parts per billion (ppb).
Nuclear Electronics and Machine Shops
On-site electronics and machine shops are available for custom fabrication of prototype equipment and electronics for researchers and students.
Equipment
Specialized equipment that supports NESC research, including the irradiation cell for large dry irradiations and a variety of in‑core irradiation devices that accommodate multiple sample geometries and experimental needs.
Irradiation Cell
At one end of the reactor pool is a large room that allows dry irradiation of samples up to 20 feet long.
In-core Irradiation Devices
In-core irradiation devices allow for a variety of geometries, given that the active region of the core is 15 inches long.
Recent Publications
The Nuclear Engineering & Science Center has compiled a list of publications, technical reports, conference presentations, and dissertation/thesis papers involving the NESC facilities and equipment. Each of the pages below are listed in reverse chronological order.
Recent Projects
- Ongoing chemical analysis projects with the Center for Chemical Characterization and Analysis
- Food contamination and sterilization studies with the Department of Agricultural Engineering and the Intercollegiate Faculty of Toxicology
- Artifact conservation with the Nautical Archaeology Program
Research equipment setup in a laboratory environment.