2024 Faculty Courses School of Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering Graduate major in Nuclear Engineering
Basic Nuclear Physics
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Nuclear Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Tatsuya Katabuchi
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Mon / 3-4 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- NCL.N401
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
[Outline] Lecture on nuclear physics will be given as a basic subject of nuclear engineering.
[Aim] To understand and obtain the basic knowledge on nuclear physics for further study of nuclear engineering.
Course description and aims
The students obtain basic knowledge on nuclear physics and the knowledge to understand subjects of advanced courses in nuclear engineering such as nuclear reactor physics.
Keywords
Nuclear size, Binding energy, Nuclear decay, Radiation, Mass formula, Free Fermi gas model, Shell models, Collective models, Optical model, Direct reactions, Compound nuclear reactions, Statistical mode, Nuclear data
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
A questions-and-answers session will be conducted in each class.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Basics of Quantum Physics | Explain basic concepts of quantum physics. |
| Class 2 | General Properties of Nuclei I: Nuclear Size and Density | Explain the size/density of atomic nucleus, and related experimental evidences. |
| Class 3 | General Properties of Nuclei II: Binding Energy | Explain properties of nuclear force, and conduct calculation of nuclear binding energy. |
| Class 4 | General Properties of Nuclei III: Nuclear Decay and Radiation | Explain instability, decay of nucleus, and emission of alpha, beta, gamma radiation. |
| Class 5 | General Properties of Nuclei IV: Mass Formula | Conduct calculation of nuclear mass using a semi-empirical formula. |
| Class 6 | Nuclear Structure I: Free Fermi Gas Model of Nuclei | Explain exclusion principle, Fermi gas model. |
| Class 7 | Nuclear Structure III: Nuclear Shell Model | Explain shell structure and magic numbers of nuclei. |
| Class 8 | Nuclear Structure III: Collective Models (Rotation, Vibration) | Explain rotation and vibration motion of nuclei. |
| Class 9 | Nuclear Reactions I: General Aspect of Nuclear Reaction | Explain general aspect of nuclear reaction. |
| Class 10 | Nuclear Reactions II: Resonance Reaction | Explain resonance reaction. |
| Class 11 | Nuclear Reactions III: Compound Nuclear Reactions, Statistical Model | Explain compound nuclear reactions, statistical model. |
| Class 12 | Nuclear Reactions IV: Neutron Capture Reaction | Explain neutron capture reaction. |
| Class 13 | Nuclear Fission | Explain nuclear fission mechanisms. |
| Class 14 | Application of Nuclear Physics to Nuclear Energy | Understand basic characteristics of nuclear Explain nuclear reactors on the basis of what have learned in this lecture. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None specified
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Course materials are available at T2SCHOLA.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Assessment is based on a quiz at the end of each session and the final exam.
Related courses
- NCL.N402 ： Nuclear Reactor Theory I
- NCL.N406 ： Nuclear Reactor Theory II
- NCL.N410 ： Nuclear Reactor Physics, Radiation Measurement and Nuclear Security Laboratory
Prerequisites
Basics of quantum mechanics