Kayla Hahn

Kayla is a PhD candidate with a bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Originally from St. Louis, MO she first became interested in spectroscopy while volunteering at Law’s Observatory as part of MU Student Astronomical Society (MUSAS) community outreach.

Currently, her research focuses on real-time elemental analysis of molten salts for advanced nuclear applications. She is working on the development and demonstration of the submerged plasma for isotopic detection and elemental resolution (SPIDER) probe, which involves generating a plasma beneath the surface of the molten salt sample. Optical emission spectroscopy captures the light via a coupled fiber optic which can then be analyzed to determine salt composition. Two independent systems are being developed at NCSU and Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to confirm results previously achieved by the SPIDER probe and test the addition of various analytes. The goal for work at INL is to eventually test salts taken from the electrorefiner to establish material detection capabilities for pyroprocessing salt.