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           COLLOQUIUM OF THE COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS SCIENCE CENTER
                              College of Science
                       (CDS Department CSI 898-Sec 001)
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  Designing Neutron Sensors Using Open Source Monte Carlo Software

                         Matthew Schor
                Trojan Defense LLC, Reston, VA

A new class of neutron sensors, called Transformational Integrated 
Neutron Technology Sensor TINTS, have been actively studied in the 
last couple of years. It has been found that small, low power, low 
cost silicon sensor chip enable a range of neutron detection 
applications. These applications extend from handheld detectors that 
currently rely on power-hungry 3He gas tubes in use since the 1950s, 
to more exotic applications such as embedding in first responder radios, 
Intelligent Personal Radiation Locators, cell phones, air cargo pallets, 
conveyance security devices for sea containers, and other transport 
conveyances.  The nuclear detection mission is critical to homeland 
security and for attributing the source country that originally shipped 
neutron emitting material such as plutonium.  The December 2008 Commission 
on the Prevention of WMD Terrorism found that there is a better than 
even chance of a nuclear or other mass destruction incident somewhere 
around the world within the next five years.

This seminar will describe the Monte Carlo simulation techniques used 
for understanding some of the fundamental features of TINTS.


                        Monday, March 16, 2009
                                  4:30 pm
                     Room 301, Research I, Fairfax Campus

Refreshments will be served at 4:15 PM.
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Find the schedule at www.cmasc.gmu.edu/seminar/schedule.html
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