Dr. Yaron Danon is a Professor in the department of Mechanical Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), he holds the Edward E. Hood Jr. Chair in Nuclear Engineering, and the Director of the Nuclear Engineering Program. He received both his MS and PhD degrees in Nuclear Engineering and Science from RPI.

Dr. Danon is the Director of the Gaerttner Electron Linear Accelerator (LINAC) Center at RPI, which houses a powerful 60 MeV pulsed electron LINAC used primarily as an intense pulsed neutron and gamma source. Dr. Danon’s nuclear data research group develops methods and performs experiments to measure neutron induced reactions and cross sections. Dr. Danon is the Chairman of the Measurements Committee of the US Cross Section Evaluation Working Group (CSEWG) and reports on US measurement activity to the Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation Co-operation (WPEC). Dr. Danon is also a member of the Nuclear Data Advisory Group (NDAG) which advises the US DOE Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP) on issues relating to nuclear data. He is a fellow of the American Nuclear Society.

Dr. Danon’s group develops novel radiation detectors, data acquisition systems, and data analysis methods for nuclear data application and other applications. This research includes the development of novel high efficiency, large area, zero bias solid-state neutron detectors.

In addition to nuclear data activities, Dr. Danon is a pioneer in pyroelectric crystal acceleration. Together with his students he developed x-ray and neutron sources that utilize simple heating of these crystals and thus eliminate the requirement for high voltage power supply. Current research includes laser or light driven crystal-based accelerators. Dr. Danon published over 112 articles in archived journals, 173 in peer review conferences, and presented more than 124 invited talks. He advised 25 Ph.D., 10 M.S, and 6 M.Eng. students that graduated; he currently advises 6 Ph.D. students and teaches courses on radiation technology and physics of nuclear reactors.

Updated 3/2024