Nuclear Technology: Fission and Fusion

COURSE CONTENT

INTRODUCTION: Fossil Fuels and Nuclear Fuels. Energy sources, Energy reserves.

REVIEW OF NUCLEAR PHYSICS: Nuclear reactions. Cross sections. Reaction rates.

NUCLEAR FISSION: Excess mass and binding energies. Radioactive decay. Fission chain reaction.

NUCLEAR REACTOR TECHNOLOGY: Thermal neutron reactors. Fast neutron breeder reactors. Nuclear fuel cycle. Heat transfer and fluid flow in nuclear reactors. Radiation. Safety and Environmental problems.

NUCLEAR FUSION: Isotopes involved in fusion reactions and reserves. Requirements for a thermonuclear fusion reaction. Elements of plasma physics. Magnetically confined plasma fusion devices. Laser induced fusion. Fusion reactor technology.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Knowledge:

  • Basic concepts of nuclear physics
  • Fundamentals of energy production from fission and core fusion.
  • Technology of fission reactors and technological problems to be solved for the operation of fusion reactors.

Skills-Abilities:

  • Calculation of physical and technological parameters of nuclear technology
  • Solving related exercises.
Διδάσκοντες:
Siakavellas Nikolaos (Professor Emeritus)