StudyQA — Master: Radiation Detection and Instrumentation

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Description Contents Requirements

This programme builds on our strong international reputation in detector physics and technology, as well as our excellent links with industry.

Why Surrey?
The Department has excellent and longstanding associations with many of the sectors major industries and institutes. External lecturers are used to providing expert and topical teaching across the RDI programme, presenting the latest developments in detector technology and relevant case studies of applications in industrial and research settings.

Programme overview
The Department of Physics has one of the largest nuclear and applied radiation physics research groups in the UK. This MSc builds on our strong international reputation in detector physics and technology, and our existing excellent links with industry and government institutes. These companies and institutes are in areas such as radiation physics, environmental monitoring and detector technology.

The programme provides training and expertise in the use of radiation detectors, instrumentation techniques and data processing. It covers applications in a range of fields including medical physics, nuclear and particle physics, astronomy and homeland security. Industrial sectors that use radiation detection include medical imaging, security and baggage scanning, the nuclear power industry and defence.

Also, research fields such as nuclear physics, high-energy physics and space science all rely on radiation detectors.

The Radiation Detection and Instrumentation degree is a modular programme containing eight taught modules in Semesters 1 and 2, plus a summer dissertation project.

Compulsory modules
Radiation Physics
This module provides a general overview of atomic and nuclear physics. You will gain an understanding of the structure of matter, radioactivity, types of radiation and the mechanisms by which radiation interacts with matter.

Radiation Laboratory Skills The laboratory work is designed to give you practical experience in handling radioactive substances. Initially work comprises scripted experiments, but later on students are asked to design their own.

Radiation Measurement
The various modes of interaction of radiation with matter are discussed, including the physical principles behind radiation detection and measurement. The module introduces the concepts of dosimetry and radiation protection, and describes the basic categories and functionality of various radiation detectors.

Detector Instrumentation
Various aspects of nuclear and detector instrumentation will be covered, designed to complement experiments in the Semester 1 laboratory classes. Topics will include the performance and use of preamplifiers, spectroscopy systems, multi-channel analysers (MCAs) and digital pulse processing and pulse shape discrimination.

Extended Group Project
This module explores the various techniques used for interfacing of equipment and signal processing in the context of radiation detection systems, and it includes FLUKA Monte Carlo programming. You will also carry out a group project to develop detector instrumentation in the laboratory.

Imaging and Remote Sensing
This module describes the types of detectors used for radiation imaging and their application to radiation monitoring and sensing. Both semiconductor and scintillators imaging detectors will be described, plus key aspects of imaging theory. The application of detectors for radiation imaging and environmental monitoring will be covered, including applications for security imaging.

Research Project and Dissertation
A full-time research project is carried out over the summer.

Optional Modules
You will choose two out of the following four modules:

Astronomical Detector Technology
Taught by the University of Sussex, this module summarises the current status of instrumentation required for astronomy research, with a particular emphasis on observational astronomy carried out at international facilities by members of the Sussex Astronomy Research Group.

Diagnostic Applications of Ionising Radiation Physics
This module is an introduction to imaging systems: X-ray imaging and analysis, X-ray computed tomography; gamma cameras; single photon computer tomography (SPECT); and positron emission tomography (PET). The module also includes the use of radiation detectors in radiotherapy.

Particle Physics Detector Technology
Taught by the University of Sussex, this module is an introduction to high-energy physics instrumentation, providing an overview of the current instrumentation techniques and detector requirements for particle physics experiments.

Radiation Protection
This module involves a description of the applications and principles of radiation protection, covering the issues of radiation dose to both the wider population and to individuals, the principles of dose calculation, and example procedures for implementing radiation protection programmes.

Programme Structure
Students on the Radiation Detection and Instrumentation (RDI) programme take a range of topics from six core programme modules, covering the fundamental aspects of radiation detectors, instrumentation techniques and the underpinning radiation physics. In addition, students carry out a wide range of laboratory-based experiments and computational work, which includes a group design project and a summer dissertation project.

The optional modules in Semester 2 develop the use of detector systems in various application areas, and allow you to tailor the MSc programme towards your areas of interest.

These modules are offered subject to minimum student numbers. The modules taught at the University of Sussex in Brighton are offered over ten weeks on Thursdays, and are delivered by a mixture of classes and video conference.

A minimum 2.2 honours degree (or overseas equivalent) in the physical or environmental sciences, electronics or in a relevant engineering discipline.English language requirementsIELTS minimum overall: 6.5IELTS minimum by component: 6.0We offer intensive English language pre-sessional courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.