Undergraduate research using γ-ray spectroscopy following inelastic neutron scattering

Undergraduate students at the University of Dallas (UD) have played a significant role in the investigations of the low-lying collective nuclear excitations observed in the Z = 52 isotopes. These studies were undertaken using γ-ray spectroscopy following inelastic neutron scattering at the University of Kentucky Low-Energy Nuclear Accelerator Facility. Of particular importance in these investigations is the ability to measure γ-ray Doppler shifts in order to extract lifetimes of excited levels ranging from a few fs to 1 ps. UD students have been actively involved in all aspects of the research from operation of the modified CN Van de Graaff accelerator to comparisons of experimental results with model calculations. An overview of undergraduate involvement in this research will be presented, as well as the most recent results of their investigations.