Avonlea School- First rural school to participate!
Grade 11 and 12 students travelled to CLS in September 2006 to conduct x-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments on soil samples using soft x-rays on the Spherical Grating Monochromator beamline.
Students collected and prepared soil samples so they could compare the trace elemental differences between their samples. Groups of five students at a time were able to take measurements over the range of 250 to 2000 electron volts and were able to make an observation of x-ray excited optical luminescence.
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Students looking into the sample chamber to view their sample |
The soil sample is mounted on the rectangle of double-sided carbon tape in the middle of the circular sample mount. Luminescence is clearly visible. |
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Larry Bogan (teacher) says, “The huge advantage of this field trip was that it was unique ... and it was real scientific research. The students got to work with active research scientists doing actual research using some of the best technology in the world. This was real science as opposed to much of what we do.”
For CLS, the results have been used to demonstrate the beamline capabilities, and incidentally, its ease of use, to prospective soil science users. The observation of x-ray excited optical luminescence has led to an active and ongoing research program.
Last modified: 2012-01-19 17:01:36