Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications

This course is designed as an introduction to the broad range of topics that comprise nuclear science, including radioactive decay, radiation dosimetry, neutron and positron beams, nuclear reactor physics and designs, nuclear waste disposal, radioactivity in health sciences, and more.

The course centers on the essential concepts rather than in-depth theory. In other words: this course shines in its broadness of subjects and is perfect for deliberately selecting more in-depth follow-up courses such as e.g. Nuclear Reactor Physics, Nuclear Chemistry, Medical Imaging Signals and Systems and Neutrons, X-rays and Positrons for Studying Microscopic Structures and Dynamics. The lectures are given by staff from all sections within the department of Radiation Science and Technology (RST).

Students should complete this course with a greater understanding and appreciation for the relevance of nuclear science and technology in todays global society.

Subjects include:

The history of radioactivity
Modes of decay / de-excitation
Interactions of radiation with matter
Radiation dosimetry
Applications of research reactors
Neutron beams
Neutron scattering techniques
Positron beams
Nuclear reactors
Nuclear waste disposal
Health application of nuclear science
Medical imaging
Radiotracers

A written exam + a presentation of a scientific paper.

All students give a presentation in couples about a paper that is related to an NSE subject. The presentation should contain sufficient physics/chemistry (hence, no general/managerial talk). Grade is P.

The exam is a written exam and is closed-book. The student is allowed to make a *written* cheat sheet of 1 A4 and bring that to the exam. Grade is E.

The final grade is calculated as G = (P + 3E)/4

The grade for the presentation can be re-used for the resit in the same academic year. If you fail for this course (either with the exam or resit), you need to redo everything in the next academic year.