(update: the school concluded on June 13th, 2025)

(More pictures from the school)

The 2025 Nuclear Analytical Techniques (NAT) Summer School will be held once more live at the UC Davis in Davis, CA from June 8th to June 13th. This year, it will be a joint session supported by the Nuclear Science and Security Consortium (NSSC) and the High Energy Physics Consortium for Advanced Training (HEPCAT).

The school will start at 8:30 am on June 8th in the Physics Building Room 185. The school will end on June 13th in the afternoon. Please make travel arrangements accordingly.

“NATCAT”: Nuclear Analytical Techniques (NAT) and High Energy Physics Instrumentation (HEPCAT)

The program will consist of some lectures, but mostly hands-on activities involving nuclear analytical techniques. Below is the schedule:

Presentations (links to slides listed with titles)

  • Bob Svoboda, UC Davis: “Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA)” (pptx,pdf)
  • Tom Shutt, SLAC: “GammaTPC: a New MeV Gamma Ray Instrument Concept” (pdf)
  • Carl Grace, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab: “Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs)” (pptx,pdf)
  • Jerry Bushberg, UC Davis: “Radiation Effects” (waiting for materials)
  • Eric Prebys, UC Davis: “Applications of Low Energy Hadron Accelerators” (pptx,pdf)
  • Bruce Schumm, UC Santa Cruz: “Tracking and Silicon Detectors” (pdf)
  • Ethan Bernard, LLNL: “Overview of Noble Liquid Detectors” (pdf)
  • Wes Frey, UC Davis: “McClellan Nuclear Research Center” (pptx, pdf)
  • Ryan Roussel, SLAC: “Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning” (pdf)
  • David Rivera, LANL: “LANSCE and Neutron Measurements” (pdf)

Introductory Talks (links in Teams and Activities Section)

Teams and Activities

Group Assignments

Activities, Codes, Groups Schedules, and Locations

Block Scheduling

Social

Wednesday evening, students are encourage to visit the Farmers Market, in the Davis Central Park. In addition to farm goods, there are food trucks, beer, and wine for sale, or you can bring your own. Live music will be provided from 5-7:30 by Five Star Alcatraz.

Cost

There is no registration fee to pay, but you or your institute will be liable for your expenses (travel to and from Davis, accommodation, and meals). We will provided shared room housing at a local hotel. Those desiring an individual room will be responsible for their own lodging.

Application

Applications are closed.

Local team

Profs: Eric Prebys, Bob Svoboda, Mani Tripathi, Eric Prebys, Max Chertok, and Bob Svoboda

TAs: Lena Korkeila, Ryan Hensley, Logan Knudson, Bruno Gelli, Adam Tidbull

Information

Hotel: The hotel is the University Park Inn and Suites. Those requesting a room will have a reservation and may check in any time after 4PM. This is about a 1 mile (very pleasant) walk from the Physics Building, but rides can be arranged if that’s an issue.

Activities: Most of the activities will have activity sheets posted. Please read it before your scheduled activity and familiarize yourself with the material.

Forms: You will HAVE to fill in Volunteer Information form, CNL RUA form. Those will be distributed during the first day. Also, submit This briefing BEFORE going to the MNRC.

Required Clothing: Working in labs at UC Davis will require that you wear long pants and closed-toed shoes. Please remember to bring these with you. Other required Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) will be provided to you as needed. Be aware that the daily temperature range can be quite large in Davis. At the time of the school, daily highs are typically in the mid-90s, while lows are in the mid-50s. Please check the weather forecast and pack accordingly.

Internet: The preferred method to connect to WiFi at UC Davis is eduroam. There is a free wifi network called ucd-guest. Instructions for connecting to it are found here.

Checking in at the hotel is on June 7th, 2025, starting at 4pm. You will receive detailed check-in instructions once your application is accepted.

Parking: If you are driving to campus you must park in the visitor lots. The easiest is the Mondavi Parking Structure, which is about a ten-minute walk from the Physics Building (campus maps are available online). Note, you will need to get a parking pass from the machine each day.

UCD_Physics_Map

Transportation: The Sacramento International Airport is about 25 minutes from campus. A Lyft or Uber ride is about $40.

Davis is also served by the Amtrak Capitol Corridor line. It is about a 30-minute walk from the train station to the dorm through the downtown area.