University of Wisconsin – Madison
Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics
Unique Fusion Expertise: The Hirst Lab investigates defect evolution in nuclear materials subject to different combinations of radiation damage, elevated temperature, and mechanical stress. We have developed a unique capability to subject materials to temperature gradients during (light/heavy) ion irradiation and to simultaneously applied mechanical loads up to 2kN. In addition we have custom built a filament-heated thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) facility that can subject materials to temperatures up to 1000°C whilst measuring evolved gas species. Finally, we have a fast scanning calorimeter that can heat specimens up to 1200°C at heating rates up to 1,000,000 K/s (achievable rates scale inversely with sample size) whilst measuring the heat capacity and enthalpy changes associated with microstructural evolution.
Email: [email protected]