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Nuclear engineering is the application of the breakdown of atomic nuclei and/or other sub-atomic physics, based on the principles of nuclear physics. The nucleus of an Atom is the very dense region consisting of Nucleons ( Protons and Neutrons, at the center of an atom Nuclear physics is the field of Physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of Atomic nuclei. It includes, but is not limited to, the interaction and maintenance of nuclear fission systems and components— specifically, nuclear reactors, nuclear power plants, and/or nuclear weapons. Nuclear fission is the splitting of the nucleus of an atom into parts (lighter nuclei) often producing Free neutrons and other smaller nuclei which may This article is a subarticle of Nuclear power. A nuclear reactor is a device in which Nuclear chain reactions are initiated controlled Nuclear power is any Nuclear technology designed to extract usable Energy from atomic nuclei via controlled Nuclear reactions A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from Nuclear reactions either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. The field may also include the study of nuclear fusion, medical and other applications of (generally ionizing) radiation, nuclear safety, heat/thermodynamics transport, nuclear fuel and/or other related (e. In Physics and Nuclear chemistry, nuclear fusion is the process by which multiple- like charged atomic nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus Nuclear medicine is a branch of Medicine and Medical imaging that uses the nuclear properties of matter in diagnosis and therapy See also Nuclear debate Nuclear safety covers the actions taken to prevent Nuclear and radiation accidents or to limit their consequences In Physics, heat, symbolized by Q, is Energy transferred from one body or system to another due to a difference in Temperature The nuclear fuel cycle, also called nuclear fuel chain, is the progression of Nuclear fuel through a series of differing stages g. , waste disposal) technology, nuclear proliferation, and the effect of radioactive waste or radioactivity in the environment. Nuclear proliferation is a term now used to describe the spread of Nuclear weapons, fissile material and weapons-applicable nuclear technology and information to nations Radioactive wastes are Waste types containing radioactive Chemical elements that do not have a practical purpose Radioactive decay is the process in which an unstable Atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting ionizing particles and Radiation. See also Natural environment The '''biophysical''' environment is the symbiosis between the physical environment and the Biological

Contents

Typical training

The following is the typical coursework included in most U.S. nuclear engineering degree programs. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

College preparation

As with any engineering discipline, college preparation should include mathematics training through the beginnings of calculus, as well as introductory courses in physics and chemistry. Calculus ( Latin, calculus, a small stone used for counting is a branch of Mathematics that includes the study of limits, Derivatives Physics (Greek Physis - φύσις in everyday terms is the Science of Matter and its motion. Chemistry (from Egyptian kēme (chem meaning "earth") is the Science concerned with the composition structure and properties

Undergraduate coursework

Undergraduate coursework should begin with a foundation in mechanics and dynamics of partmotion, thermodynamics, introductory computer programming, college level physics and chemistry, and a rigorous training in mathematics through differential equations. Mechanics ( Greek) is the branch of Physics concerned with the behaviour of physical bodies when subjected to Forces or displacements In physics the term dynamics customarily refers to the time evolution of physical processes In Physics, thermodynamics (from the Greek θερμη therme meaning " Heat " and δυναμις dynamis meaning " A differential equation is a mathematical Equation for an unknown function of one or several variables that relates the values of the

Midway through undergraduate training a nuclear engineer must choose a specialization within his or her field that he or she will further study. Further coursework in a nuclear engineering program includes but is not limited to fluid mechanics, reactor physics, quantum mechanics, thermal hydraulics, linear circuits, radiation effects, and neutron transport. Fluid mechanics is the study of how Fluids move and the Forces on them Quantum mechanics is the study of mechanical systems whose dimensions are close to the Atomic scale such as Molecules Atoms Electrons Thermal hydraulics (also called thermohydraulics) is the study of hydraulic flow in Thermal systems A linear circuit is an Electric circuit in which for a sinusoidal input voltage of Frequency f, any output of the circuit (current through any Radiation, as in Physics, is Energy in the form of waves or moving Subatomic particles emitted by an atom or other body as it changes from a higher energy Neutron transport refers to determination of the Neutron flux, observed from an efflux of Neutrons from a Neutron source.

Specialization in fission includes the study of nuclear reactors, fission systems, and nuclear power plants, the primary teachings deal with neutronics and thermal-hydraulics for nuclear generated electricity. Nuclear fission is the splitting of the nucleus of an atom into parts (lighter nuclei) often producing Free neutrons and other smaller nuclei which may This article is a subarticle of Nuclear power. A nuclear reactor is a device in which Nuclear chain reactions are initiated controlled Neutron transport refers to determination of the Neutron flux, observed from an efflux of Neutrons from a Neutron source. Thermal hydraulics (also called thermohydraulics) is the study of hydraulic flow in Thermal systems Nuclear power is any Nuclear technology designed to extract usable Energy from atomic nuclei via controlled Nuclear reactions A firm foundation in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics in addition to hydrodynamics is a must. Fluid dynamics is the sub-discipline of Fluid mechanics dealing with fluid flow: Fluids ( Liquids and Gases in motion

Specialization in nuclear fusion includes electrodynamics and plasmas. Classical electromagnetism (or classical electrodynamics) is a theory of Electromagnetism that was developed over the course of the 19th century most prominently In Physics and Chemistry, plasma is an Ionized Gas, in which a certain proportion of Electrons are free rather than being bound This area is very much research oriented and training often terminates with a graduate level degree.

Specialization in nuclear medicine includes courses dealing with doses and absorption of radiation in bodily tissues. Those who get competency in this area usually move into the medical field. Many nuclear engineers in this specialization go on to become board licensed medical physicists or go to medical school and become a radiation oncologist. Medical physics is the application of Physics to Medicine. It generally concerns physics as applied to Medical imaging and Radiotherapy, although A radiation oncologist is a doctor who specializes in the treatment of Cancer patients using radiation as the main modality of treatment Research is also a common choice for graduates.

Naval Nuclear Power School

The US Navy runs a program called Naval Nuclear Power School to train both officers and enlisted sailors for nuclear plant operation. Naval Nuclear Power School is a Nuclear engineering school operated by the U An officer is a member of an armed force who holds a position of authority An enlisted rank in the Military of the United States is any rank below a commissioned officer. While some officers have undergraduate backgrounds in nuclear engineering, any officers who take the requisite math and science classes are also accepted, whereas most of the enlisted students hold no college degrees at all. Despite this, they are prepared, through a rigorous training program (lasting between 65 weeks for Machinist's Mates and eighteen months for Electronics Technicians and Electrician's Mates), to operate the nuclear and steam plants aboard the navy's submarines and aircraft carriers. Machinist's Mate (or MM) is a rating in the United States Navy 's engineering community The United States Navy occupational rating of Electronics Technician (abbreviated as ET) is a designation given by the Bureau of Naval Personnel ( BUPERS Electrician's Mate (abbreviated as EM) is a United States Navy occupational rating. This training does not carry a Department of Energy certification, although many sailors choose to work at civilian power plants after their six-year obligations are completed.

USS Virginia, a Virginia-class nuclear attack (SSN) submarine

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)), the ninth and penultimate Nimitz-class supercarrier

Professional areas

Nuclear fission

Nuclear fission is the disintegration of a fissionable atom's nucleus into two or more different elements nuclei. Ship's crest "Emblazoned on a blue background that symbolizes the mighty deep Virginia is prominently positioned Innovations The Virginia s incorporate several innovations Instead of Periscopes the subs have a pair of extendable " Photonics masts quot outside Building christening and commissioning The Ronald Reagan was the first aircraft carrier to be named in honor of a living former president Nuclear fission is the splitting of the nucleus of an atom into parts (lighter nuclei) often producing Free neutrons and other smaller nuclei which may An approximate number of ~2. 4 neutrons are scattered around per fission. There are two types of nuclear fission. 1-Fast Fission 2-Thermal fission

Generally, thermal fission is used in commercial reactors, if we disregard the Fast Breeder Type of Nuclear Reactors.

The United States gets about 20% of its electricity from nuclear power. This is a massive industry and keeping the supply of nuclear engineers plentiful will ensure its stability. Nuclear engineers in this field generally work, directly or indirectly, in the nuclear power industry or for government labs. Current research in industry is directed at producing economical, proliferation resistant reactor designs with passive safety features. Although government labs research the same areas as industry, they also study a myriad of other issues such as: nuclear fuels and nuclear fuel cycles, advanced reactor designs, and nuclear weapon design and maintenance. Nuclear fuel is any material that can be consumed to derive Nuclear energy, by analogy to chemical Fuel that is burned to derive energy Generation IV reactors (Gen IV are a set of theoretical nuclear reactor designs currently being researched Nuclear weapon designs are physical chemical and engineering arrangements that cause the physics package of a nuclear weapon to detonate A principal pipeline for trained personnel for US reactor facilities is the Navy Nuclear Power Program.

Nuclear Powerplant

B-61 thermonuclear weapon

Nuclear fusion and plasma physics

Research areas in nuclear fusion and plasma physics include high-temperature, radiation-resistant materials, and plasma dynamics. In Physics and Nuclear chemistry, nuclear fusion is the process by which multiple- like charged atomic nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus In Physics and Chemistry, plasma is an Ionized Gas, in which a certain proportion of Electrons are free rather than being bound Internationally, research is currently directed at building a prototype tokamak called ITER. A tokamak is a machine producing a toroidal Magnetic field for confining a plasma. ITER is an international Tokamak ( Magnetic confinement fusion) research/engineering proposal for an experimental project that will help to make the transition from The research at ITER will primarily focus on instabilities and diverter design refinement. Researchers in the USA are also building an inertial confinement experiment called the National Ignition Facility or NIF. The National Ignition Facility, or NIF, is a Laser -based Inertial confinement fusion (ICF research device under construction at the Lawrence NIF will be used to refine neutron transport calculations for the US stockpile stewardship initiative. Stockpile stewardship refers to the United States program of reliability testing and maintenance of its Nuclear weapons without the use of Nuclear testing

NIF (National Ignition Facility) target chamber

Nuclear medicine and medical physics

An important field is nuclear medicine. The National Ignition Facility, or NIF, is a Laser -based Inertial confinement fusion (ICF research device under construction at the Lawrence Nuclear medicine is a branch of Medicine and Medical imaging that uses the nuclear properties of matter in diagnosis and therapy From x-ray machines to MRI to PET, among many others, nuclear medicine provides most of modern medicine's diagnostic capability along with providing many treatment options. An X-ray machine is a device used by Radiographers to acquire an X-ray image Positron emission tomography ( PET) is a Nuclear medicine imaging technique which produces a three-dimensional image or map of functional processes in the

X-Ray Image of a male skull

Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan of a head

PET taken with an ECAT Exact HR+ PET Scanner

Nuclear materials and nuclear Fuels

Nuclear materials research focuses on two main subject areas, nuclear fuels and irradiation-induced modification of materials. Nuclear fuel is any material that can be consumed to derive Nuclear energy, by analogy to chemical Fuel that is burned to derive energy Improvement of nuclear fuels is crucial for obtaining increased efficiency from nuclear reactors. Irradiation effects studies have many purposes, from studying structural changes to reactor components to studying nano-modification of metals and semiconductors using ion-beams or particle accelerators. Nanotechnology, sometimes shortened to nanotech, refers to a field of Applied science whose theme is the control of matter on an Atomic and Molecular Focused ion beam, also known as FIB, is a technique used particularly in the semiconductor and materials science fields for site-specific analysis deposition and ablation of

Uranium ore, the principal raw material of nuclear fuel

Nuclear fuel pellets

A Focused ion beam

Radiation measurements and imaging

Nuclear engineers and radiological scientists are interested in the development of more advanced ionizing radiation measurement and detection systems, and using these to improve imaging technologies. Nuclear fuel is any material that can be consumed to derive Nuclear energy, by analogy to chemical Fuel that is burned to derive energy Focused ion beam, also known as FIB, is a technique used particularly in the semiconductor and materials science fields for site-specific analysis deposition and ablation of This includes detector design, fabrication and analysis, measurements of fundamental atomic and nuclear parameters, and radiation imaging systems, among other things.

A modern Geiger counter

A neutron detector

Scintillation detector next to Uraninite

Nuclear engineering organizations

List of U. A Geiger counter, also called a Geiger-Müller counter, is a type of Particle detector that measures Ionizing radiation. Neutron detection is the effective detection of Neutrons entering a well-positioned Detector. A scintillator is a substance that absorbs high-energy (ie Ionizing) electromagnetic or charged Particle radiation then in response fluoresces The American Nuclear Society (ANS is an international not-for-profit 501(c (3 scientific and educational organization consisting of approximately 11000 engineers The International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA) is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its S. colleges offering nuclear engineering degrees

College Department (external links) Degrees offered
Air Force Institute of Technology Engineering Physics MS,PhD
Kansas State University Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering BS,MS,PhD
Georgia Institute of Technology Nuclear and Radiological Engineering BS,MS,PhD
Idaho State University Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering BS,MS,PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Nuclear Science and Engineering BS,MS,PhD
Missouri University of Science and Technology Nuclear Engineering BS,MS,PhD
North Carolina State University Nuclear Engineering BS,MS,PhD
Ohio State University Nuclear Engineering MS,PhD
Oregon State University Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Health Physics BS,MS,PhD
Pennsylvania State University Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering BS,MS,PhD
Pennsylvania State University Distance Learning Program in Nuclear Engineering Meng
Purdue University Nuclear Engineering BS,MS,PhD
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Mechanical, Aerospace & Nuclear Engineering BS,MS,PhD
South Carolina State University Nuclear Engineering BS
Texas A&M University Nuclear Engineering BS,MS,PhD
University of California, Berkeley Nuclear Engineering BS,MS,PhD
University of Cincinnati Mechanical, Industrial and Nuclear Engineering BS,MS,PhD
University of Florida Nuclear and Radiological Engineering BS,MS,PhD
University of Idaho Nuclear Engineering Program MS,PhD
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering BS,MS,PhD
University of Maryland, College Park Materials and Nuclear Engineering MS,PhD
University of Massachusetts Lowell Chemical Engineering BS
University of Michigan Ann Arbor Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences BS,MS,PhD
University of Missouri Nuclear Science and Engineering Institute MS,PhD
University of New Mexico Chemical and Nuclear Engineering BS,MS,PhD
University of Tennessee at Knoxville Nuclear Engineering BS,MS,PhD
University of South Carolina Nuclear Engineering ME,MS,PhD
University of Texas at Austin Nuclear and Radiation Engineering MS,PhD
University of Wisconsin-Madison Engineering Physics BS,MS,PhD
United States Naval Academy Nuclear Engineering BS
United States Military Academy Nuclear Engineering BS

List of universities in Canada offering nuclear engineering degrees

College Department (external links) Degrees offered
University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa Nuclear Engineering B. The Air Force Institute of Technology ( AFIT) is a Graduate school and provider of professional and continuing education that is part of the United States Air Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States "PhD" redirects here for other uses see PhD (disambiguation. The Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly known as Georgia Tech, or Tech, is a public, Coeducational Research university in Idaho State University (ISU is a public University operated by the U Missouri University of Science and Technology (commonly Missouri S&T) is an institution of higher learning located in Rolla Missouri, and part of the University North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, Coeducational extensive Research University located in Raleigh North Carolina The Ohio State University ( OSU) is a Coeducational public Research university in the state of Ohio. Oregon State University ( OSU) is a Coeducational public Research[[ university]] located in Corvallis, Oregon, United The Pennsylvania State University (commonly known as Penn State) is a state-related, land-grant, space grant public research University The Pennsylvania State University (commonly known as Penn State) is a state-related, land-grant, space grant public research University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, or RPI, is a Nonsectarian private Research University located in Troy, New York South Carolina State University (also known as SCSU State College among the older alumni members SC State or simply State is a historically black university located in Texas A&M University, often called A&M or TAMU, is a Coeducational public Research University located in College Station The University of California Berkeley (also referred to as Cal, Berkeley and UC Berkeley) is a major research university located in Berkeley The University of Cincinnati is a Coeducational public Research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. The University of Florida ( Florida or UF) is a public land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant major Research The University of Idaho is Idaho 's oldest public university located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County. This article is about the flagship campus For other uses and locations of University of Illinois, see University of Illinois (disambiguation The University of The University of Maryland College Park (often referred to as The University of Maryland UMD, UMCP or simply Maryland) is a public research The University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell is one of five University of Massachusetts campuses The University of Michigan Ann Arbor ( U of M, U-M, UM or simply Michigan) is a top-ranked Coeducational public research The University of Missouri (also known as the University of Missouri–Columbia, Mizzou, or MU) is a public land-grant and research The University of New Mexico ( UNM) is a Public University in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The University of Tennessee (also known as UT) sometimes called the University of Tennessee Knoxville ( UT Knoxville, or UTK) is the flagship This article is about the University of South Carolina in Columbia The United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States that educates and commissions officers of the United States "USMA" redirects here For other uses see USMA (disambiguation The United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, The University of Ontario Institute of Technology ( UOIT) is located in Oshawa Ontario and shares its campus with Durham College. Eng
McMaster University, Hamilton Engineering Nuclear Physics B. McMaster redirects here for others see McMaster (disambiguation. Hamilton (ˈhæməltən ( 2006 population 504559 UA population 647634 CMA population Eng. Phys. , Dipl. Nuc. Tech, M. Eng, M. A. Sc, Ph. D.
Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering M. The Royal Military College of Canada (RMC is the Military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting University. Kingston Ontario is a Canadian city located at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, where the lake runs into the St Sc, M. A. Sc, M. Eng, PhD

List of colleges in India offering nuclear engineering degrees

College Department (external links) Degrees offered
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur Nuclear Engg and Technology M. The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (known as IIT Kanpur or IITK) is one of the Indian Institutes of Technology, set up in the then-industrial Tech,PhD

List of colleges in Pakistan offering nuclear engineering degrees

College Department (external links) Degrees offered
Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Islamabad Department of Nuclear Engineering MS,PhD

See also

External links

Atomic physics (or atom physics) is the field of Physics that studies atoms as an isolated system of Electrons and an atomic nucleus. Nuclear fuel is any material that can be consumed to derive Nuclear energy, by analogy to chemical Fuel that is burned to derive energy Nuclear material consists of materials used in Nuclear technology systems such as Nuclear reactors and Nuclear weapons Most commonly this refers to Nuclear physics is the field of Physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of Atomic nuclei. Nuclear power is any Nuclear technology designed to extract usable Energy from atomic nuclei via controlled Nuclear reactions This article is a subarticle of Nuclear power. A nuclear reactor is a device in which Nuclear chain reactions are initiated controlled Thermal hydraulics (also called thermohydraulics) is the study of hydraulic flow in Thermal systems Nuclear criticality safety is a field of Nuclear engineering dedicated to the prevention of an inadvertent self-sustaining Nuclear chain reaction. Safety engineering is an applied science strongly related to Systems engineering and the subset System Safety Engineering
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