How do you prepare students for an industry that will recruit 100,000 people by 2033? By giving them access to cutting-edge instrumentation, usually reserved for research and the nuclear industry. This is the purpose of the nuclear physics experimental training platform inaugurated by IJCLab on Thursday 27 November during the General Assembly of the Campus des Métiers et des Qualifications d'Excellence (CMQE) Énergie Durable d'Île-de-France.
Crédit photo : Dominique Longieras (IJCLab).
Strong institutional support
Supported within the framework of the NExIF project funded by BPI, this platform is the result of strong collective engagement around training challenges in the nuclear field. Université Paris-Saclay, IUT d'Orsay and IJCLab are joining forces to position the Orsay campus as a centre of excellence.
The inauguration brought together key figures from academia, institutions and the nuclear industry: Sylvie Retailleau (former Minister of Higher Education and Research), James Chéron (Mayor of Montereau-Fault-Yonne, VP Île-de-France Region), Denis Merlet (Dean, Faculty of Sciences), Isabelle Demachy (VP Academic Affairs), Pascal Aubert (Director, Undergraduate School), Catherine Mundubeltz (EDF), Philippe Poubeau (Université des Métiers du Nucléaire) and Achille Stocchi (Director of IJCLab).
An ambitious and collective project
This achievement would not have been possible without the committed involvement of IJCLab's and Université Paris-Saclay's financial, technical and engineering departments. Sandra Bouneau, head of the platform, acknowledged their essential contribution on this occasion.
A platform unique at all levels of training
Spanning 130 m², nine complete experimental setups enable the exploration of all ionising radiation, from adapted detection systems to the measurement of the target physical quantities: half-lives of radioactive nuclei, neutron flux, γ-photon energy and intensity, neutron scattering length, and particle kinetic energy.
This equipment supports neutron activation experiments and the study of neutron moderation in matter.
Key features of the platform:
- Two high-activity neutron sources for the production of radioactive nuclei through neutron activation and the study of moderation in matter, secured by shielding designed at IJCLab.
- Radioactive sources emitting gamma (γ) radiation for studying their behaviour in matter, and alpha (α) particle emitters for measuring energy loss.
- Several sets of probes dedicated to radiological risk prevention and dosimetry.
Experiments similar to those conducted in nuclear research and industry, now accessible in an educational setting!
In memory of Sylvain David
A final moment, filled with emotion: Sandra Bouneau paid tribute to Sylvain David, a distinguished physicist at IJCLab and co-leader of the project, who recently passed away.
Both shared the same passion: passing on knowledge, and seeing students thrive.
This platform, which they imagined and created together, also bears his signature.