Abstract
The physics of nuclear fission will be briefly illustrated, from the basic mechanism behind this phenomenon to the relevant physical quantities like nuclear cross sections, neutron flux and reaction products, together with the accompanying phenomenon of neutron capture and its role in determining how the fuel transforms in a nuclear reactor. The basic concepts underlying the operation of different types of nuclear reactors will be illustrated, along with the concept of fuel cycle. After touching on the aspect of safety, the current situation of nuclear power in the world, with its costs, its role in reducing carbon emissions, the available resources and finally the issues of waste management and accidents will be briefly illustrated.
Highlights
What is fission and why can it produce energy? The basic reason is the behaviour of the nuclear mass and nuclear binding energy for different nuclear species
Iron is more bound than the light nuclei, while e.g. uranium is less bound than iron
Another important process is radiative neutron capture, where the energy obtained from the capture of the neutron makes the resulting nucleus be in an excited state that decays by emission of electromagnetic energy in form of energetic photons
Summary
Summary. — The physics of nuclear fission will be briefly illustrated, from the basic mechanism behind this phenomenon to the relevant physical quantities like nuclear cross sections, neutron flux and reaction products, together with the accompanying phenomenon of neutron capture and its role in determining how the fuel transforms in a nuclear reactor. Another important process is radiative neutron capture, where the energy obtained from the capture of the neutron makes the resulting nucleus be in an excited state that decays by emission of electromagnetic energy in form of energetic photons (gamma rays). This process can occur on uranium nuclei and when fission is possible it is a competitor process. For a target of arbitrary thickness, by dividing it in thin slices of thickness dx, one obtains that (10)
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