Achieving advancements in the minute, microscopic realm of nanotechnology
MIT Undergraduates Propose Cost-Efficient Solution for Advanced Research Instrument
A team of five senior nuclear engineering students at MIT tackled a challenging assignment during the recent academic semester: devising a feasible way to introduce a state-of-the-art technology at the university. The students worked on a design project that aimed to adapt the MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory for the use of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), a technique that could significantly expand research capabilities on campus.
The MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory, housed within a large blue dome, has long been a hub for scientific research, but the introduction of SANS could open up a new world of possibilities. SANS allows researchers to model the structure of various materials and complex liquids, offering insights into their properties and functions. By adapting the reactor to this advanced technique, a wide range of researchers from diverse fields, including nuclear science, chemical engineering, biological engineering, and materials science, could conduct experiments that were previously unattainable at MIT.
This project marked a significant shift in the team's design challenges, as they were tasked with solving a specific problem assigned rather than identifying their own. With no prior experience in SANS, the group embarked on an ambitious mission to bring this technology to MIT, tackling two major obstacles: the space limitations at the reactor and the high cost of typical SANS instruments.
MENTORSHIP AND COLLABORATION
The students benefited from the guidance of Boris Khaykovich, a research scientist at the Nuclear Reactor Laboratory specializing in neutron instrumentation. With his help, they made significant progress in their assessment of the project, going further than they might have otherwise, given their lack of background in SANS.
Khaykovich, who has watched as SANS has become the most popular technique for analyzing material structure, hopes to improve access to this technique at MIT. By designing a more affordable instrument, he believes a wider range of researchers will have the opportunity to pursue these experiments.
The collaboration between students and Khaykovich resulted in a conical instrument design that maximized precision while working within the space and cost constraints. The students also proposed the use of an alternative type of glass-based low-cost neutron detector, which could significantly reduce the cost of the instrument and increase its accessibility.
IMPACT AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
The students' proposed design was well-received by both Khaykovich and their professor, Zachary Hartwig. The proposed instrument could be built at only 4.5 meters long and at an estimated cost of less than $1 million, making it a cost-effective solution for MIT. NRL staff will consult the students' findings as they move forward with the project, with the potential for the students' work to influence the future infrastructure of the reactor.
For the students, this project offered a unique opportunity to contribute to a significant campus initiative. Liam Hines, one of the team members, reflected on his time at MIT, stating, "This is a lab I've been contributing to my entire time at MIT, and then through this project, I finished my time at MIT contributing in a much larger sense."
As part of the Nuclear Systems Design Project course, students are encouraged to embrace challenges and learn how to lead teams effectively, a valuable skill set for future careers in research and industry. The success of this project demonstrates the potential for MIT undergraduates to make meaningful contributions to ongoing research initiatives.
- Boris Khaykovich, a research scientist at MIT, is supporting a team of nuclear engineering students, aiming to bring small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) technology to the university.
- The students, with minimal experience in SANS, are developing a feasible design to adapt the MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory for SANS, using guidance from Khaykovich.
- The proposed design by the students includes a conical instrument maximizing precision, while adhering to space and cost constraints.
- To reduce costs, the students recommend using an alternative type of glass-based, low-cost neutron detector.
- MIT faculty and staff value the students' design, as it offers a cost-effective solution, with the potential Proposal to influence the future infrastructure of the reactor.
- For the students, this project serves as a significant opportunity to make a substantial contribution to a campus research initiative, particularly Liam Hines, who reflects on his time at MIT.
- With this project, the students are honing skills that are essential for future careers in research and industry, as part of the Nuclear Systems Design Project course.
- The impact of this project highlights the potential for graduate and undergraduate students to play significant roles in pioneering research, contributing to advancements in science, technology, and engineering, including medical conditions and diverse fields of education.
