Radiation Measurements and Imaging

Nuclear engineers and radiological scientists are interested in the development of more advanced ionizing radiation measurement and detection systems, and using these to improve imaging technologies. This includes detector design, fabrication and analysis, measurements of fundamental atomic and nuclear parameters, methods development for detector systems, neutron activation analysis, radiation imaging systems, nondestructive testing and evaluation of components using penetrating radiation, radiological heath engineering and medical physics applications.

Areas of research include:

Nuclear Instrumentation
Many common application require only that a single detector provides a measurement of the intensity and/or energy spectrum of the radiation source. The department is currently investigating the application of unique instruments for the simultaneous measurement of gamma ray and neutron fields. Using Compton scattering in a multi-detector array serves as a basis for the gamma camera. The development of novel semiconductor detectors is currently one of the major research efforts (details see czt-lab.engin.umich.edu ). These room-temperature operation semiconductor detectors are developed for applications in international nuclear non-proliferation, homeland security, planetary sciences, medical imaging, nuclear physics and environmental safety. Techniques are also being developed for active interrogation to screening cargos and shipping containers for homeland security applications. Another area of research, neutron activation analysis, helps archaeology, forensics, and materials analysis.

Nuclear Robotics
One example is the use of these technologies in mobile robots whose "eyes" see ionizing radiation rather than light, and can work in inhospitable condition. The U-M, in collaboration with four other major universities, is developing autonomous mobile robots that can perform useful work in radiation environments. This cross-disciplinary work brings together students from electrical, mechanical, and nuclear engineering to solve fundamental problems in robotics, including radiation vision, optical vision, navigation, manipulation, advanced computing, radiation hardening, and control.

Teaching Faculty: Zhong He, David Wehe, Ron Fleming, Alex Bielajew, Kimberlee Kearfott, James Holloway

Research Faculty: Mark Hammig, Feng Zhang

Measurements Lab:

• Radiation Measurements and Imaging Group

http://www-ners.engin.umich.edu/labs/radmeas/

• Semiconductor Imaging Spectrometer Group