FYS-KJM3506 – Nuclear methods and instrumentation
Course description
Course content
The course gives an introduction to measurement and analysis methods in nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, as well as basic radiation protection for working with radioactive materials and radiation sources in the laboratory.
The course offers practical training in the use of detector systems for qualitative and quantitative measurements of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.
Learning outcome
After completing the course, you are able to:
- describe radiation sources commonly used in nuclear experiments and measurements.
- explain how different types of ionizing radiation interact with matter and which processes are important at different energies.
- explain the functioning of ionization, semiconductor, and scintillator detectors, and be able to set them up and use them in simple counting setups for spectroscopy, for both particles and electromagnetic radiation.
- utilize electronics and software for processing signals from detectors and data acquisition.
- apply statistical methods and uncertainty propagation for nuclear measurements.
- explain how a neutron generator operates and have experience with neutron activation.
- recite the fundamental principles of radiation protection and conduct risk assessments for working with radioactivity.
Admission to the course
The course is intended for students in the program Kjernefysikk og nukle?rteknologi (bachelor).
FYS-KJM3506 – Nuclear methods and instrumentation and FYS-KJM4506 – Nuclear methods and instrumentation have 36 spots in total.? Applicants are ranked according to the following criteria:
- Students admitted to Kjernefysikk og nukle?rteknologi (bachelor)
- Students admitted to Nuclear Science (master)
- Students admitted to MNM2-CHEMISTRY, specialization in nuclear chemistry
- Students admitted to Fysikk og astronomi (bachelor)
- Students admitted to MNM2-FYSIKK
Formal prerequisite knowledge
The following courses must be passed before the first day of the mandatory laboratory course in FYS-KJM3506:
Recommended previous knowledge
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with FYS-KJM4506 – Nuclear methods and instrumentation.
- 5 credits overlap with FYS4505 – Methods and Instrumentation for Nuclear and Particle Physics.
- 5 credits overlap with FYS9505 – Methods and Instrumentation for Nuclear and Particle Physics.
- 5 credits overlap with KJM5922 – Radiochemical Measurement Techniques.
- 5 credits overlap with KJM9922 – Radiochemical Measurement Techniques.
- 5 credits overlap with FYS-KJM5920 – Nuclear measurement techniques and instruments (discontinued).
- 5 credits overlap with FYS-KJM9920 – Nuclear measurement techniques and instruments (discontinued).
Teaching
The course is given over the? whole semester with the following weekly teaching:
- 2 hours of lectures
- 4 hours of group and laboratory teaching
In addition to lectures, the course includes 7 mandatory laboratory exercises. The course requires 6 mandatory written lab reports and an oral group presentation. All mandatory activities must be approved before you can sit for the exam.
Attendance at laboratory sessions is mandatory.
Examination
- Final oral or written exam which counts 100 % towards the final?grade.
It is decided at the beginning of the semester whether the final examination will be oral or written, based on the number of students.
This course has mandatory exercises that must be approved before you can sit the final?exam.
It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for the following course: FYS-KJM4506 – Nuclear methods and instrumentation
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in Norwegian. You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a?postponed exam?at the beginning of the next semester.
New examinations?are offered at the beginning of the next semester for students who do not successfully complete the exam during the previous semester.
We do not offer a re-scheduled exam for students who withdraw during the exam.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.