Rabbit Lab-Solid samples are double sealed and sent into the reactor for 5 minutes at 10 kW of power. Upon return of the sample through the pneumatic transfer line, the sample is surveyed with using the cutiepie meter and decapsulated to a fresh outer vial. The hot sample is transported to the counting lab in a leaded box.
Counting Lab-Gamma counting systems are used to detect the intensity of the pulse height spectrum. The detector is a solid state germanium crystal. The signal is analyzed in an 8000 channel multichannel analyzer that sorts pulses based on amplitude. This information is managed by computer and displayed.
After the signal is generated in the detector, additional pulse electronics serve to amplify and sort the signals.
Three inch germanium crystal at the left is connected to a preamplifier. The copper
cold finger is visible at the far end. Detectors must be operated at 77 K.
The detector is positioned horizontally in this setup and surrounded by a lead cave.
Students learn to operate the counting systems. Here Mike Conrady is demonstrating the use of the MCA software.