Nuclear Engineering

Nuclear engineering covers a wide scientific and economical field that is enriched by the multiple relations with other disciplines. Its applications field extends from energy production (nuclear fission and fusion reactors) to the analysis and treatment of materials, the use of radio-elements (radioactive tracers) in medicine, biology and geology beyond to medical applications in radiotherapy and nuclear imaging. The aim of the course is to give the physical basis of nuclear engineering and to illustrate some of the applications previously mentioned. The lessons will be followed by two conferences (Nuclear reactors of next generation, nuclear waste and nuclear fuel cycle) given by specialists of the field.

1. Nuclear structure, energy considerations in nuclear physics, notions on cross section of interaction. Nuclear stability and nuclear models.
2. Nuclear instabilities: the different types of radioactivity, basic notions of radio-protection.
3. Nuclear reactions and applications.
4. Nuclear fission, basis of neutronics and principle of operation of a nuclear reactor.
5. Nuclear fusion.
6. Nuclear applications in chemistry, biology, medicine. Radioactive tracers and applications, medical imaging.