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At the Oslo Cyclotron Laboratory (OCL), we study nuclear fission, the process where an atomic nucleus splits into two smaller fragments. The fragments cool down by emitting neutrons and gamma rays, which carry detailed information about the fission process. To extract this information, we need a verified understanding of how our detectors respond to both types of radiation.
Our primary instrument is the OSCAR detector array, composed of large-volume LaBr₃ scintillators—world-class tools for gamma-ray spectroscopy. However, in fission experiments they are also exposed to intense neutron fluxes. Neutrons can produce signals that mimic gamma rays, and recent studies show that best simulations are not accurate enough to predict this neutron response. This presents both a challenge and an excellent opportunity for a master's project.
If you choose this topic, you will characterize and model the neutron response of the OSCAR detectors. You will begin with a dedicated experiment at UiO's neutron generator, irradiating detectors with mono-energetic neutrons. You will be involved in the entire process: designing the setup, handling detectors and electronics, and collecting data. Following the experiment, you will analyze the data using CERN ROOT to produce energy spectra. In the second phase, you will develop a detailed simulation of the setup and use your experimental data as a benchmark. By iteratively comparing results and adjusting physics models, you will refine the simulation until it accurately reproduces reality—creating a validated tool for the entire research group.
This project offers hands-on laboratory work and intensive programming. You will gain experience with state-of-the-art detectors and become proficient in data analysis and simulation—critical skills in modern nuclear physics. Your work will directly enable more accurate neutron subtraction in upcoming fission experiments at OCL, and may provide the foundation for a scientific publication.
Contact person: Neeraj Kumar, PhD