Facilities

Ionising radiation detector processing and characterisation laboratories

The Ionising radiation detector processing and characterisation laboratories facilitate the core activities of our group.

In particular, they enable cutting edge research into developing radiation detectors by active elements materials research, prototyping, signal acquisition and development of novel pulse processing techniques. These are of interest for a wide range of applications such as:

• Medical physics
• Nuclear security
• Homeland security
• Large science facilities including synchrotrons, nuclear and particle physics research
• Nuclear energy
• Oil and gas exploration
• Industrial processes and quality assurance
• Environmental monitoring etc.

Available facilities

The detector preparation laboratories allow us to do wet chemistry, cutting, polishing, metallisation, photolithography, annealing, and surface profile measurements.

Radiation detector characterisation uses nuclear electronics and signal processing, including digital; with standard radio-isotope sources and variable temperatures (100 to 500 K).

Electrical characterisation includes current voltage, capacitance voltage measurements, and photoinduced current transient spectroscopy.

The main optical techniques employed are: Photoluminescence and photo current measurements, optical microscopy, including birefringence measurements during detector operation.

Get in contact

For more information about the laboratories please email Dr Annika Lohstroh.

Applied and medical radiation X-ray laboratories

The X-ray laboratories serve a wide community of X-ray users, currently with an emphasis on medical imaging and radiation detector research.

In particular the facilities are essential to the ongoing work here for next generation medical imaging and treatment modalities, for example for breast cancer screening, and radiotherapy.

Other collaborative projects include imaging for industrial or interdisciplinary purposes, for example analysis of items of interest to arts, history, archaeology etc.

Available facilities

• Irradiation of samples for dosimetry research
• Radiation detector characterisation
• X-ray imaging research such as medical applications and beyond, including micro- CT and phase contrast imaging.

Get in contact

For more information about the laboratories please email Dr Silvia Pani.

External facilities

We regularly access further facilities hosted here at the University which are open for businesses, as well as through collaborations with external partners.

A useful, although not complete list of facilities available within the South East Physics Network can be found on the University of Kent’s SEPnet page.