Welcome To KFUPM Physics

Welcome to the Department of Physics at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. I invite you to explore our website where you can find information about our academic programs, courses, research activities, and faculty members. Physics has always been at the forefront of exploration. This is accomplished through cognitive enhancement by education transmitted through academic courses as well as carrying out research at the cutting-edge frontiers of human knowledge. The Physics department offer courses that are solidly based on the American system to meet international quality assurance requirements, which has placed the Department as a world-class regional center in a leading international institution. Our student body includes pure-physics students and double-major students, which reflects the interdisciplinary nature of our program. In addition, our research facilities span various fields of physics including condensed matter physics, lasers, materials research, magnetism and superconductivity, nuclear physics, and nonlinear and computational physics. Over the past five decades, our faculty members have conducted research using in-house facilities as well as collaborative research with national and international centers.

Mohammad Al-Kuhaili,
Professor & Chairman, Physics Department

Research and Academic activity statistics 2015 to 2021

3.1

Average Impact Factor Publications​

51

Patents

10042

Cumulative Citation Count​

452

Publications

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Seminar

Synthesis and Characterization of Hexagonal Boron Nitride for Neutron Radiation Detection

Speaker: 
Dr. Faris Ahmed Al-Matouq 

Date: Monday, 28 October 2024
Time: 11:00 a.m.

Location: Bldg. 6/Room 125

Abstract: 

In current space missions, radiation exposure during extravehicular activities is primarily assessed through post-mission analysis using dosimeter badges, highlighting the need for real-time detection to enhance astronaut safety. In this talk, I will discuss the development of a real-time radiation detection system using graphene field-effect transistors (gFETs) and monoisotopic hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). Monoisotopic hBN was synthesized via a metal flux method and characterized before and after neutron irradiation using various spectroscopic techniques. The study used two types of neutron sources, a deuterium-deuterium neutron generator, and an Americium-Beryllium isotopic source, to observe the effects of neutron irradiation on hBN. It was found that neutron irradiation could induce specific defects in hBN, particularly the VB- defect. Then, monoisotopic hBN was transferred to a gFET to fabricate the proposed device. The resistance of the device was observed to increase in correlation with the total thermal neutron flux. This change in resistance can be attributed to the interaction between the device and alpha particles generated from thermal neutron capture by Boron-10. The ability of this device to detect changes in resistance under neutron irradiation in real time may offer a significant advancement in ensuring astronaut safety by providing real-time monitoring of neutron exposure, which is a critical aspect of cosmic radiation. 

Biography:
Dr. Faris Ahmed Al-Matouq is an Assistant Professor in the Physics Department at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.
 
 All faculty, researchers and students are invited to attend.

    Location and Time
  • 6/125

  • 28 Oct, 2024

  • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM