Resurgence of a Nation's Radiation Science Driven by Its Nuclear Industry Needs

This article describes the radiation facilities and associated sample preparation, management, and analysis equipment currently in place at the Dalton Cumbrian Facility, a facility which opened in 2011 to support the UK's nuclear industry. Examples of measurements performed using these facilities are presented to illustrate their versatility and the breadth of research they make possible. Results are presented from research which furthers our understanding of radiation damage to polymeric materials, radiolytic yield of gaseous products in situations relevant to nuclear materials, radiation chemistry in light water reactor cooling systems, material chemistry relevant to immobilization of nuclear waste, and radiation-induced corrosion of fuel cladding elements. Applications of radiation chemistry relevant to health care are also described. Research concerning the mechanisms of radioprotection by dietary carotenoids is reported. An ongoing open-labware project to develop a suite of modular sample handling components suited to radiation research is described, as is the development of a new neutron source able to provide directional beams of neutrons.

Automated summary

This article introduces the radiation facilities and equipment at the Dalton Cumbrian Facility, as well as research conducted in areas such as radiation damage to polymeric materials, radiolytic yield of gaseous products, material chemistry for nuclear waste immobilization, and radiation-induced corrosion. The article also mentions the application of radiation chemistry in health care and research on radioprotection mechanisms by dietary carotenoids. Ongoing projects to develop modular sample handling components for radiation research and a new neutron source providing directional neutron beams are also described.