FYSS3460 Fissio ja sen sovellukset (5 op)

• fission processes: spontaneous and induced fission, delayed fission

• fission yield and energy distributions, fission neutrons, fission modes

• fission models

• contemporary research on fission process

• nuclear reactors and production of nuclear power

• advanced nuclear reactor concepts 

At the end of this course, students will know

1) the basics of fission process

• types and modes of nuclear fission and the key experimental techniques to study fission
• how fission can be described as a barrier penetration process
• impact of the shell effects on the fission barrier shape
• how to explain the pathway to fission as a random walk in an energy landscape of nuclear shapes
• how this many-dimensional energy landscape leads to the observed fission properties

2) the basics of fission related data bases

• Where to look for information on fission cross sections, fission product yields, fission neutron multiplicities etc.

3) the basics of nuclear reactor physics

• fundamentals of neutron production, moderation and absorption
• the diffusion equation and the derivation of the reactor equation to achieve self-sustainable reactor cycle
• concept of reactivity, how to perform a simple reactivity calculation
• the most important novel nuclear reactor concepts: breeders, thorium fuel cycle, and subcritical accelerator driven reactors (ADS). 

Before enrolling for this course, students should have studied or be currently studying Nuclear Physics (FYSS3301-302).

Lecture slides and associated notes. Parts of the textbook (De Sanctis) and relevant contemporary articles will be assigned for self-study.  Other course literature is recommended supportive material.