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Taking Measure

Just a Standard Blog

H. Heather Chen-Mayer

H. Heather Chen-Mayer is a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). She applies neutron beam methods, such as prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA), for composition analysis of objects related to cultural heritage and materials used in infrastructure. Her research interests include Compton imaging of prompt gamma rays, gamma-gamma coincidence spectroscopy, and pulsed beam PGAA. She has a Ph.D. in physics from the City University of New York.

How Neutrons and Gamma Rays Can Reveal Our Cultural Heritage

January 7, 2020

Most people think that understanding and preserving our cultural heritage is mainly the concern of the social sciences and humanities, such as archaeology and

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About this blog

Taking Measure is the official blog of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

It provides a behind-the-scenes look at NIST’s research and programs, covering a broad range of science and technology areas. Through this blog, NIST’s researchers and staff share why they do what they do and how today’s research will lead to tomorrow’s innovations.

The views presented here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of NIST.

If you have any questions about our blog or reprint requests, please contact us at takingmeasure [at] nist.gov.