Mission: The mission of the Nuclear Science and Technology Division is to conduct research and support academic programs regarding aspects of nuclear science and technology that are of interest to the community and sponsoring organizations.
Groups - (group leader):
Radiochemistry Group
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Ken Czerwinski
Nuclear
Engineering Group
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Materials
for Nuclear Applications Group
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National
Security Group
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News and Events:
Check out our new Lab MSM-172 ICAP Virtual Tour!!!
Check out our new Lab MSM-173 Plutonium Virtual Tour!!!
Programs and Activities:
Transmutation Research Program: A campus-wide research program, managed by members of the NSTD, to perform scientific research into the transmutation of radioactive waste in support of the national and international programs to develop this new technology.
Radiochemistry: The research in actinide chemistry is centered on evaluating and utilizing chemical kinetics and thermodynamics through the determination of actinide chemical species. Research efforts are directed at understanding, evaluating, and predicting the chemical forms of the actinides in differing conditions with applications to environmental speciation of actinides and actinide separations. Also look at TRP Tasks 19, 25, 26, 28, 29, 33, 34, 38.
Radiochemistry Ph.D. Program: UNLV has developed over 1500 square feet of laboratory space of radiochemistry laboratories, including a dedicated laboratory for work with technetium and the higher actinides. The facilities allow researchers to work with radionuclides as chemical reagents, supporting the study of the fundamental chemical behavior of the actinides and technetium for applications ranging from fuel and waste form development to process chemistry to the environmental behavior of the radionuclides. Within the radiation laboratories, researchers have access to high temperature furnaces, including an arc melter; Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis); Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR); Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES); Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS); Time-Resolved Laser Fluorescence (TRLF) Spectroscopy; Laser Raman Spectroscopy; as well as traditional radiochemistry techniques, such as alpha spectroscopy, liquid scintillation spectroscopy, gamma spectroscopy, and proportional counting. Procedures have been developed to support the analysis of radioactive samples in other analytical facilities on campus, adding X-ray Powder Diffraction; X-ray Crystal Diffraction; Scanning Electron Microscopy; Electron Microprobe Analysis; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR); X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS); X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF); and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) to the tools available for the analysis of radioactive samples.
Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative: Follow on to the HTHX (High Temperature Heat Exchangers)
Environmental Management: Scientists in the NSTD serve as independent consultants for the Department of Energy Environmental Management (EM) activities at the Nevada Test Site, as well as for the local communities.
UNLV Student Section of the American Nuclear Society: The American Nuclear Society Board officially recognized the ANS Student Section at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas during its annual winter meeting in New Orleans, LA, on November 22, 2003. ANS President Larry Foulke presented the new section with their charter at a special seminar at UNLV on February 4, 2004.
Health Physics: Health physics is the profession dedicated to the protection of the individual, the population, and the environment from the potentially harmful effects of radiation. It incorporates the principles and technical skills from many disciplines: physics, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, mathematics, ecology, toxicology, and industrial hygiene.
Master of Science Degree Health Physics: Join the fastest growing Health Physics program in the nation.
Master of Science Degree Materials and Nuclear Engineering: Join the fastest growing Nuclear Science and Engineering research program in the nation.
High Temperature Heat Exchangers: Ended Sept 30, 2007 the follow on is the NHI (Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative)
NRAMP 1: Final Report
American Nuclear Society - Nevada Section
Experimental Facilities:
Radio-Chemistry Laboratory: The laboratory is used for spectroscopic and radiochemical experiments with actinide elements including uranium and plutonium. Our allowable limits permit a wide range of experimental conditions that are unique for a university.
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) User Facility: TEM is a vital tool for understanding materials that lets scientists observe and analyze materials at the atomic level.
Electron Microanalysis and Imaging Laboratory: The electron microprobe and scanning electron microscope allow scientists to analyze materials at the micron level to determine elemental composition and morphology (physical structure).
Principal Staff
Anthony Hechanova,
Ph.D. Director, Nuclear Science and Technology Division
Tel: (702) 895-1457, E-mail: hechanova@unlv.nevada.edu
Kenneth Czerwinski, Ph.D.
Leader, Radiochemistry Group
Tel: (702) 895-0501, E-mail: czerwin2@unlv.nevada.edu
Denis Beller,
Ph.D. Leader, Nuclear Engineering Group
Tel: (702) 895-1452, E-mail: bellerd@unlv.nevada.edu
Gary Cerefice,
Ph.D. Deputy Director, UNLV Transmutation Research Program
Tel: (702) 895-2612, E-mail: cerefice@unlv.nevada.edu
Jian Ma, Ph.D.
Coordinator, Molten Metal Research Group
Tel: (702) 895-5055, E-mail: jianma@nscee.edu
Tom O'Dou, Lab Director, Radiation Laboratories
Tel: (702) 895-4419, E-mail: tom.odou@unlv.edu
Trevor Low, Lab
Manager, Radiation Laboratories
Tel: (702) 895-5435, E-mail: trevor.low@unlv.edu
Ning Li,
Ph.D., Coordinator, Materials for Nuclear Applications Group
Tel: (505) 665-667 , E-mail: ningli@lanl.gov
Allen Johnson,
Ph.D, Associate Technical Director, NHI Chemistry Support
Tel: (702) 895-0881 , E-mail: allen.johnson@unlv.edu
Steve Curtis,
Coordinator, National Security Group
Tel: (702) 655-2859 , E-mail: sszjcurtis@att.net
Maintained by the Harry Reid Center.
Send questions or comments to
hechanova@unlv.nevada.edu
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This page was last updated:
03/24/08 12:17:55 PM
