1. YNU
2. Education and Research
3. Research Centers
4. Radio-Isotope (RI) Center

The Radio-Isotope (RI) Center was established in July 1979 in order to conduct various kinds of experiments using unsealed radio-isotopes. The center is open to faculty members and graduate students. Undergraduate students may also use the center with the supervision of a faculty member. The center consists of four laboratories (each of which has an area of 24m2), two measuring rooms, a contamination examination room, a radioisotope storeroom, a radioisotope waste room, and a room for regulation systems of ventilation and drainage.

At the moment, the center can handle eighteen kinds of nuclides: 3H, 14C, 22Na, 24Na, 32P, 35S, 36Cl, 42K, 45Ca, 55Fe, 57Co, 63Ni, 131Ba, 137Cs, 140La, 204Tl,207Bi and 241Am. The storage and usage of the currently available radioisotopes is carefully controlled and regulated in accordance with legally mandated regulations and rules on amount of usage per day, month, year and volume. Stringent safety measures and practices are in place, and radioactivity inside the laboratories, in waste gas and drain water are continuously monitored.

Current measuring instrumentations available at the center are a liquid scintillation counter (ALOKA LSC-5100) and gamma spectrometers (CAMBERRA GC2018 and InSpector 2000). The liquid scintillation counter enables accurate measurements of low-level beta rays emitted from isotopes like 3H and 14C. The gamma spectrometers analyze the energy of the gamma rays and enable identification of nuclides of unknown materials that emit gamma rays.

At present, the center is used mainly for tracer experiments in the area of Life Science. The center also trains researchers and students to conduct nuclear radiation experiments safely at other institutions.

Radio-Isotope(RI) Center Web Site

(Contact: Planning Division,General Affairs Department)