ENGIN 11
A Hands-on Introduction to Radiation Detection: Getting to know our Radioactive World
Introduction to basic concepts in radiation detection and radioactivity, electrical circuits, and data analytics. Lectures provide the theoretical foundation of the work being performed in the accompanying laboratory. The course will contain three sections: introduction to how radiation interacts with matter and radiation detection technologies; development of the tools (mathematical and computational) needed for analyzing various types of radiation and environmental data; and building of a basic radiation sensor system.
Topics
- The objective of this course is to provide Freshman and Sophomore students with an introduction to the fundamentals of nuclear radiation and radiation detection through a hands-on approach. Students will be introduced to core concepts in nuclear science, statistical analysis, and computation, while being given practical experience applying those concepts to radiation detection and data analysis. The focus of this course will be on the application of the nuclear science, radiation detection, and data analysis concepts covered to the building of a multi-sensor radiation detection system, following a template for the required data acquisition software and circuit integration. Fieldwork related to a chosen research topic will be carried out in small groups, with group oral presentations and final reports. Students will be introduced to research opportunities on campus and at nearby lab facilities through tours of lab spaces throughout the department and field trips to LBNL and LLNL. The course is suitable for Nuclear Engineering students, other Engineering majors, and any students interested in gaining a general understanding of radiation detection.
- By the end of this course, students should be able to: Identify types of radioactivity, radiation detection methods and sources of environmental radiation, Perform statistical analysis of large data sets and quantify statistical and systematic uncertainties in experimental data, Make use of software tools including the Python programming language, version control with git, and shell environments, Create simple circuit designs making use of standard circuitry components, demonstrate basic soldering skills, and demonstrate a familiarity with printed circuit board design tools, Be able to outline and carry out a research project, prepare written and oral presentations of that work, and demonstrate how the sensors they built work.
Official catalogue course objectives and student learning outcomes
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027