University Science Instrumentation Centre (USIC)

Major Central Facilities available:


The services of the above facilities are also extended to researchers from other University/Institutions on payment basis.

Workshops functioning in USIC:

Research Facilities available:

The centre has very good facilities for carrying out studies on Radiation protection, environmental transfer factors, radon and thoron measurements and low level radiation detection environmental samples.

1. Radon and thoron laboratories:

The radon and thoron laboratories has following facilities:

Radon laboratory A view of radon laboratory

2. Low background Gamma spectrometry laboratory

The following instruments are available in the gamma spectrometry laboratory:

Low background 43% relative efficiency n-type HPGe gamma spectrometer A view of Low background 43% relative efficiency n-type HPGe gamma spectrometer Low background 35% nominal efficiency p-type broad energy band HPGe gamma spectrometer A view of Low background 35% nominal efficiency p-type broad energy band HPGe gamma spectrometer

IERMON Station – Partner in national monitoring network:

The laboratory is also working as a regional center for the Indian Environmental Radiation Monitoring Network (IERMON) programme. Under this programme a continuous radiation monitoring station is installed in the laboratory. This monitoring station measures radioactivity and radiation levels in the environment continuously. Under this national network programme 50 such systems are installed throughout the country and all are interlinked through satellite. The system is solar powered and works throughout the year. BARC is the nodal center for this programme.

IEROMN station A view of the IEROMN station

Stable elements measurement laboratory:

The following instruments are available in the Stable elements measurement laboratory:

Environmental Chamber for experiments on transfer factors under simulated condition:

An environmental chamber (which is very much essential for laboratory experiments on transfer factors) was designed and installed in the laboratory for exposing grass grown in pots to different concentrations of iodine, caesium and strontium for studying transfer of radionuclides under simulated condition of accidental release of radioactivity. The environmental chamber has a working area of 2 m x 2 m x 2 m and has facility for controlling the atmospheric parameters, such as, temperature and humidity. Facility for exposing the plants grown in pots to controlled levels of radionuclides/stable elements, with particular reference to Iodine, Cesium and Strontium. Provision for varying the temperature (2-65°C), humidity & Rain fall simulation, Provision for measuring light intensity with different ports for continuous air monitoring. Entire system is stainless steel with inside working area provided with 304 Gr. food grade stainless steel. With this system transfer factor studies can be conducted simulating environmental conditions of any of the nuclear power plants of India.

Environmental chamber with grass grow under simulated condition A view of the environmental chamber with grass grow under simulated condition Grass exposed to iodine under simulated rainfall condition in the environmental chamber A view of grass exposed to iodine under simulated rainfall condition in the environmental chamber

Research Papers Published:

National & International Journals 38
Refereed National /International Seminars/conferences 60
Presented in Seminar/symposia/workshop 16
Total number of publications 114
Editing the proceedings of the conference 1

National and International collaborative research programmes:

The radiation protection group is engaged in collaborative research programmes with the following institutions and national laboratories of the country and abroad: