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Our research group studies nuclear materials relevant to nuclear energy, defense, forensics, and non-proliferation applications. We are focused on nuclear materials detection, and characterization of important physical phenomena related to materials behavior in nuclear relevant environments.
Our Group’s Research Interests
- Detection/monitoring of nuclear materials/substances used laser-based methods
- Laser-material interaction, laser produced plasmas
- Materials degradation in nuclear-relevant environments
- Nuclear materials processing for advanced reactors
News
An article co-authored by Nusrat Karim (graduate student) and Dr. Kautz won ‘Best Overall Paper Award’ at the 2024 ANS student conference held at Penn State University April 4 – 6th. Congratulations!
Jacob Martin (undergraduate student researcher) presented his research at the 2024 Waste Management Symposia in Las Vegas, NV. Jacob attended the conference through support provided by the Roy G. Post scholarship award. Congratulations, Jacob!
Nusrat Karim was awarded the IAEA Marie-Sklowdowska Curie fellowship! Congratulations, Nusrat!
Josephine Hartmann (graduate student) presented her research regarding structure evolution and Sn redistribution accompanying Zircaloy-4 oxidation at The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) 2024 conference in Orlando, Florida in March.
Josephine Hartmann was selected for the National Security Internship Program (NSIP) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). She will be spending May – August at this national laboratory working with staff scientists on important national security projects focused on nuclear materials. Congratulations, Josephine!
Recent Publications
Detection of tritium using ultrafast laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy Harilal, S. S., Shaik, A. K., Kautz, E. J., Devaraj, A., Casella, A. M., & Senor, D. J. (2024, February 5), JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY, Vol. 2. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3JA00439B
Comparing the kinetics of ionized and neutral atoms from single and multi-element laser-produced plasmas Kautz, E. J. J., Phillips, M. C. C., Diwakar, P. K. K., Zelenyuk, A., & Harilal, S. S. S. (2023), PHYSICS OF PLASMAS, 30(5). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0146958
Comparison of excitation and kinetic temperatures in a laser-produced plasma using absorption spectroscopy Phillips, M. c., Kautz, E. j., & Harilal, S. s. (2023), OPTICS LETTERS, 48(7), 1942–1945. https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.487910
Experimental and theoretical comparison of ion properties from nanosecond laser-produced plasmas of metal targets Polek, M. P., Kautz, E. J., Ahmed, T., Kowash, B. R., Beg, F. N., & Harilal, S. S. (2023), Journal of Applied Physics. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0146428
Impact of environmental oxygen on nanoparticle formation and agglomeration in aluminum laser ablation plumes Kautz, E. J., Zelenyuk, A., Gwalani, B., Olszta, M. J., Phillips, M. C., Manard, M. J., … Harilal, S. S. (2023), JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS, 159(17). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0167400