The construction of the modular neutron array, a highly efficient time-of-flight detector, for use with the recently upgraded coupled cyclotron facility at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory has been accomplished by a collaboration of undergraduate physics departments. The collaboration presents an opportunity for involving faculty and students from undergraduate physics programs in state-of-the-art physics experiments at large user facilities.
REFERENCES
1.
Robert C.
Hilborn
and Ruth H.
Howes
, “Why many undergraduate physics programs are good but few are great
,” Phys. Today
56
(9
), 38
–44
(2003
).2.
Shiela Tobias, Revitalizing Undergraduate Science: Why Some Things Work and Most Don’t (The Research Corporation, Tucson, AZ, 1992).
3.
The National Science Board, The Science and Engineering Workforce: Realizing American’s Potential (The National Science Foundation, Ballston, VA, 2003).
4.
The National Science Board, Science and Engineering Infrastructure for the 21st Century: The Role of the National Science Foundation (The National Science Foundation, Ballston, VA, 2003).
5.
Robert C. Hilborn, Ruth H. Howes, and Kenneth S. Krane, Strategic Programs for Innovations in Undergraduate Physics: Project Report (AAPT, College Park, MD, 2003).
6.
NSF FY Budget Request for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, 〈http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/bud/fy2003/nar_mps.htm〉.
7.
NSF Physics Division Overview, 〈http://www.nsf.gov/mps/divisions/phy/about/c_overview.htm〉.
8.
The MoNA Project, 〈http://groups.nscl.msu.edu/mona〉.
9.
F. Marti, P. Miller, M. Steiner, J. Stetson, and X. Y. Wu, Proceedings of the International Conference on Cyclotrons and Their Applications, 64, edited by F. Marti (AIP Conference Proceedings 600, College Park, MD, 2001).
10.
D. J.
Morrissey
, B. M.
Sherrill
, M.
Steiner
, A.
Stolz
, and I.
Wiedenh
, “Commissioning the A1900 projectile fragment separator
,” Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. B
204
, 90
–96
(2003
).11.
A. F.
Zeller
, D.
Bazin
, M.
Bird
, J. C.
DeKamp
, Y.
Eyassa
, K. W.
Kemper
, L.
Morris
, S.
Prestemon
, B. M.
Sherrill
, M.
Thoennessen
, and S. W.
Van Sciver
, “A compact sweeper magnet for nuclear physics
,” Adv. Cryogenic Engin.
45A
, 643
–649
(2000
).12.
J.
Toth
, M. D.
Bird
, J. R.
Miller
, S.
Prestemon
, J. C.
DeKamp
, L.
Morris
, M.
Thoennessen
, and A.
Zeller
, “Final design of a compact sweeper magnet for nuclear physics
,” IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.
12
, 341
–344
(2002
).13.
M.
Thoennessen
, “Reaching the limits of nuclear stability
,” Rep. Prog. Phys.
67
, 1187
–1232
(2004
).14.
T.
Baumann
, H.
Ikeda
, M.
Kurokawa
, M.
Miura
, T.
Nakamura
, Y.
Nishi
, S.
Nishimura
, A.
Ozawa
, T.
Sugimoto
, I.
Tanihata
, and M.
Thoennessen
, “Improving neutron detection efficiency by using passive converters
,” Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. B
192
, 339
–344
(2002
).15.
B.
Luther
, T.
Baumann
, M.
Thoennessen
, J.
Brown
, P.
DeYoung
, J.
Finck
, J.
Hinnefeld
, R.
Howes
, K.
Kemper
, P.
Pancella
, G.
Peaslee
, W.
Rogers
, and S.
Tabor
, “MoNA–The modular neutron array
,” Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A
505
, 33
–35
(2003
).16.
P. J.
VanWylen
, J. P.
Bychowski
, P. A.
DeYoung
, G. F.
Peaslee
, and the MoNA Collaboration, “The MoNA project
,” Bull. Am. Phys. Soc.
47
(6
), 60
(2002
).17.
S.
Clark
, N.
Walker
, W.
Rogers
, T.
Baumann
, M.
Thoennessen
, A.
Stoltz
, W.
Peters
, and the MoNA Collaboration, “Calibration of the modular neutron array (MoNA)
,” Bull. Am. Phys. Soc.
48
(8
), 51
(2003
).18.
See 〈http://groups.nscl.msu.edu/mona〉 for the manual.
19.
T. Baumann, J. A. Brown, P. Deoung, J. E. Finck, J. D. Hinnefeld, R. Howes, K. W. Kemper, B. A. Luther, P. V. Pancella, G. F. Peasslee, W. F. Rogers, S. L. Tabor, and M. Thoennessen, “MoNA–The modular neutron array at the NSCL,” in The Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on the Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry, Denton, Texas, November 12–16, 2002, Denton, TX, edited by J. L. Duggan and I. L. Morgan (AIP Conference Proceedings, Melville, New York, 2003), Vol. 680, pp. 554–556.
20.
B.
Luther
, “The MoNA project: Doing big science with small-college undergraduates
,” Bull. Am. Phys. Soc.
49
(2
), 152
(2004
).21.
W. F.
Rogers
, “Construction of a modular neutron array–A multi-college collaboration
,” Bull. Am. Phys. Soc.
47
(6
), 27
(2002
).22.
23.
Y.
Lu
et al., “Veto detectors for the micro-modular neutron array
,” Bull. Am. Phys. Soc.
47
(6
), 48
(2002
);M.
Rajabali
et al., “First radioactive beam experiment with the modular neutron array (MoNA)
,” Bull. Am. Phys. Soc.
47
(6
), 54
(2002
);N.
Evanger
et al., “Neutron testing of the micro-modular neutron array
,” Bull. Am. Phys. Soc.
47
(6
), 55
(2002
).R.
Turner
et al., “Cosmic ray testing of the micro-modular neutron array
,” Bull. Am. Phys. Soc.
47
(6
), 55
(2002
);24.
S.
Clark
et al., “Calibration of the modular neutron array
,” Bull. Am. Phys. Soc.
48
(8
), 51
(2003
);S.
Marley
et al., “High voltage control of the modular neutron array
,” Bull. Am. Phys. Soc.
48
(8
), 59
(2003
);25.
U. Onwuememe and T. Grant,“The MoNA project,” Illinois Section of the AAPT, October 18–19, 2002, Decatur, IL.
26.
M. R. Evanger and R. E. Turner,“The MoNA project,” Minnesota Area Association of Physics Teachers, October 25–26, 2002, Morris, MN.
27.
J. W. Longacre, D. McCollum, and J. Robertson,“Calibration of organic scintillator bars for the modular neutron array,” Indiana Section of the AAPT, April 25–26, 2003, Bloomington, IN.
28.
J. Finck et al., “Ground state wave function of ,” NSCL-experiment 03048, private communication with spokesperson.
29.
J. L. Lecouey et al., “Is a doubly magic nucleus?,” NSCL-experiment 03033, private communication with spokesperson.
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2005 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2005
American Association of Physics Teachers
AAPT members receive access to the American Journal of Physics and The Physics Teacher as a member benefit. To learn more about this member benefit and becoming an AAPT member, visit the Joining AAPT page.
