Decay Energy Spectrometry (DES) Using Transition Edge Sensors (TES) For Measuring Absolute Activity of Radionuclides

RAP opportunity at National Institute of Standards and Technology     NIST

Decay Energy Spectrometry (DES) Using Transition Edge Sensors (TES) For Measuring Absolute Activity of Radionuclides

Location

Physical Measurement Laboratory, Radiation Physics Division

opportunity location
50.68.21.C0315 Gaithersburg, MD

NIST only participates in the February and August reviews.

Advisers
name email phone
Denis Eugene Bergeron [email protected] 301.975.2282
Ryan P Fitzgerald [email protected] 301-975-5597
Description

Identification of radionuclides in mixtures, and their accurate quantification (in units of Bq) through full characterization of each decay, remains an open challenge that must be met to support the increasing uses of radioactivity in medicine and to meet demands in manufacturing, health care, and nuclear security applications. No instrument today directly measures all decays in a sample with sufficient energy resolution to uniquely identify each radionuclide. NIST is developing a 4-pi decay-energy spectrometery (DES) system using ultra-low temperature Transition Edge Sensor (TES) micro-calorimeters to identify and quantify radionuclide samples embedded in the detector. The research associate would primarily work on commissioning a DES system using TES-based detectors being made in the NIST microelectronics cleanroom facility. The associate would have the opportunity to work on a collaboration with experts across multiple Laboratories at NIST involving detector-response modelling, next-generation TES sensor design, and quantitative sample-preparation methods.

key words

Radioactivity; transition edge sensors; radiation; ultra-low temperature; radiation detectors; nuclear forensics; nuclear medicine; nuclear physics

Eligibility

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants

Stipend
Base Stipend Travel Allotment Supplementation
$82,764.00 $3,000.00