The Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) is a research university specialised in the fields of engineering, architecture and science. UPC is present in over 130 countries in five continents through agreements and alliances with universities and research institutions all over the world. It offers Doctoral, Master and Bachelor degrees, many of them jointly with other universities from abroad.
UPC leads international research and innovation projects and is a member of the main international research and education networks. It is ranked 151-200 in the 2012 Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking) on the disciplines of its speciality (Engineering/Technology and Computer Sciences, and Mathematics).
Relevant experience
The UPC's group has been carrying on R+D on Experimental Nuclear Physics for nuclear technology, under research contracts with the Spanish Ministry and the European Commision for more than 15 years. It is member of the n_TOF collaboration since its beginning in 1998. Its main contributions to n_TOF, always in collaboration with CIEMAT and IFIC-CSIC, have been: the design of part of neutron beam line, the data acquisition system, Monte Carlo simulations of the facility for its improvement, and in all the measurement campaigns. The main objectives of the UPC's group have been the measurements of neutron-gamma (n,γ) cross section for nuclides of interest in the Nuclear Fuel Cycle, in particular of minor actinides, and for nuclides present in structural parts of NPP (Fe, Co,...).
Among other research activities, the UPC has collaborated with CIEMAT on the design of TAC geometry by means of Monte Carlo simulations with MCNPX code. As of this application, our main interest is to contribute, with man power, to the optimization of data acquisition system of the n_TOF's new experimental area. The other research topic of teh group focuses on the development of thermalized neutron detectors (based on 3He proportional counters embedded on polyethylene matrixes) for the study of beta delayed neutron emission probabilities. Our group has designed, constructed, commissioned and scientifically exploited a set of prototypes of neutron detector (BELEN detector with 22 to 30 tubes). The optimal geometry of the BELEN prototype detector has been calculated by means of Monte Carlo simulations with MCNPX and GEANT4 codes. Three designs of this detector have been used so far for the measurement of neutron beta delayed emission probabilities and beta decay half-live of many exotic isotopes in 3 measuring campaigns: 2 campaigns at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, in November, 2009, and June, 2010; and one in GSI, Germany, in August, 2011. As for this application the group plans to further investigate the detector design, so that the number of 3He counters is minimized while the detector's efficiency is maximized for a given geometry to measure delayed neutrons from beta emitters.
Role and main tasks
- Task 7.1: n_TOF EAR2 Data Acquisition System.
- Task 8.4: Improvement of experimental techniques and methodologies for decay data. Previous experiences related with tasks.
Scientific and technical personnel involved
The tasks presented before, will be developed by 3 full time staff members of UPC: Dr. Francisco Calviño, Dr. Guillem Cortés and Dr. Carme Pretel. These scientists combine many years of expertise in Nuclear engineering, Nuclear Physics, Radiation Detectors and Instrumentation, and Nuclear Power Plant Thermo-hydraulics.