Investigates potential hazards from terrorist use of radiological dispersal devices (RDDs), and research potential hazards of airborne radioactive contaminants.
The Aerosol and Radiation Research Laboratory is a state-of-the-art facility committed to cutting edge research in threat assessment, dosimetry, emergency preparedness and response, nuclear security and environmental safety.
Employing leading-edge techniques and collaboration between experts in aerosol physics, radiation safety, atmospheric science, and nuclear engineering, the laboratory is at the forefront of its domain. The laboratory’s innovative research plays a pivotal role in enhancing overall public safety, national security, and environmental preservation.
The mission of the laboratory is multi-fold:
- Provide expert analysis of liquid and powder aerosols with respect to particle size distribution and morphology.
- Perform fundamental research and development in advanced radiation detection and imaging systems.
- Perform expert Monte Carlo radiation transport simulation (using MCNP), as well as computational fluid dynamics modeling (using FLUENT).
- Provide industry with turn-key scientific services ranging from aerosol particle sizing, radiation surveying and analysis, and modeling of complex systems.
- Provide expert consultation in the areas of applied health physics, internal and external dosimetry, risk analysis, simulation and modeling of complex systems and industrial hygiene.
- Expert consulting in health physics, radiation protection, emergency preparedness and response, nuclear security and environmental safety.
- Physical dosimetry using optically simulated luminescence and electron paramagnetic resonance.
- Aerosol measurements using a Malvern Spraytec particle sizer.
- Defence and security industries
- Energy
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Utilities
Specialized labs and equipment
Equipment |
Function |
---|---|
Bruker EMXmicro X-band EPR spectrometer |
For performing electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometry. |
LANDAUER microSTAR® OSL reader |
For performing physical dosimetry measurements using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). |
Malvern Spraytec laser diffraction system (particle sizer) |
For performing aerosol particle size measurements using laser diffraction for particle sizes 0.5 – 100 micron. |
Hans Rudolph Flow/Volume Simulator |
For simulating human respiratory rhythms. |
Retsch planetary ball mill |
For grinding materials to sub-micron particle size. |
Ultrasonic sifter |
For binning (sifting) powders by particle size. |