RISE August-September 2011 - University of Salford

esulting lattice defects (buckles or folds) are
being simulated at Sussex (Professor Malcolm
Heggie and colleagues) while at Salford (Keith
Ross, Daniel Roach, Zhanna Mileeva and
Alice Bailey) are preparing to use Coherent
Neutron Inelastic Scattering (a new technique
being developed in the group) to measure
the dynamics of the carbon atoms involved in
these lattice defects. An important feature of
nuclear graphites is their porosity which exists
over a large range of length scales.
The UK is potentially
facing a serious
shortage of
electric power
Salford are applying Small Angle Neutron
Scattering and microgravimetric techniques
to studying this porosity - how it varies in
different kinds of graphite; how it absorbs the
dimensional changes that would otherwise
occur and how it links to radiological oxidation
processes. Salford also plan to use diffuse
neutron scattering to study the carbon-carbon
bond length distribution and hence the nature
of the carbon-carbon bonding and how this
varies with irradiation.
and colleagues) holds a unique collection of
nuclear graphites from a variety of sources
worldwide and will be using a variety of novel
techniques such as X-ray tomography to study
these while, at Nottingham, multi-scale
simulations will be used to attempt to understand
the macroscopic consequences of our
microscopic models for fast neutron damage.
Keith continued: “The most significant
achievement of our research would be to
contribute new understanding that would
enable the Electrical Generating companies
to keep their AGR reactors running longer.
More than that, however, we would succeed
in the rejuvenation of a crucial research field
that is relevant not only to the current AGR
reactors but to the planned Generation 4 High
Temperature Gas Cooled Reactors that are
expected to take over from the current PWR
designs in the future and in training a future
generation of physicists to help in the
development of future zero CO2 power
generation technologies”.
Name: Keith Ross
Email: k.d.ross@salford.ac.uk
At Leeds (Professor Aidan Westwood and
Andrew Scott) will apply advanced electron
microscopy techniques to study virgin and
irradiated graphites. The Manchester
graphite group (Professor Barry Marsden
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