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Course content

How is fission of heavy atomic nuclei used to produce energy?

In this course, you will receive a thorough introduction to the physics of nuclear reactors. We discuss the fission chain reaction and nuclear criticality, different reactor types and safety, and use what you have learned to simulate a reactor core. This course provides you with the knowledge to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, you:

• have basic knowledge of different nuclear reactions that are relevant for reactor physics such as fission and neutron capture
• have knowledge of different reactor technologies, the nuclear fuel cycle and phenomena that occur in a reactor
• can simulate a reactor core using Monte Carlo simulation tools and interpret the results.
• can assess advantages and disadvantages of different reactor types and technology, for example in terms of reactor safety.
• can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy.

Admission to the course

Students admitted ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ must  in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may .

If you are not already enrolled as a student ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, please see our information about .

Recommended previous knowledge

• FYS1040 – Introduction to Nuclear Technology
• FYS3500 – Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with FYS9580 – Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Physics (discontinued).
• 10 credits overlap with FYS-KJM4580 – Nuclear Technology (continued).
• 10 credits overlap with FYS3580 – Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Physics.

Teaching

The teaching consists of 4 hours of lectures and 2 hours of group teaching per week.

Throughout the semester, the students work with a project assignment where the goal is to simulate a reactor core.

The project assignment and the oral presentation of it must be approved before you can take the final exam. 

Examination

• Final oral exam which counts 100 % towards the final grade.

This course has mandatory exercises that must be approved before you can sit the final exam.

It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for the following courses: FYS3580 – Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Physics and FYS9580 – Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Physics (discontinued)

Examination support material

No examination support material is allowed.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a  at the beginning of the next semester.

 are offered at the beginning of the next semester for students who do not successfully complete the exam during the previous semester.

We do not offer a re-scheduled exam for students who withdraw during the exam.

More about examinations ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡.