Courses - Nuclear Engineering Department

Fundamental laws of thermodynamics for simple substances; application to flow processes and to nonreacting mixtures; statistical thermodynamics of ideal gases and crystalline solids; chemical and materials thermodynamics; multiphase and multicomonent equilibria in reacting systems; electrochemistry. (Fall) Wirth » read more

Because of the rapidly changing nature of technology, new and complex ethical issues are emerging which bring into question the ability of society to address, and hopefully resolve them. These new issues are arising in such areas as biotechnology, information technology, nanotechnology and nuclear technology. They range from protecting the health and welfare of the public and the environment, to patenting living organisms and labeling products containing genetically modified organisms, to biological, chemical and nuclear weapons of mass destruction, to concerns regarding the alteration of the ecology of life. This course focuses on the nature of these emerging technical issues, their ethical, legal and social ramifications, and what individuals and our society value in relation to these issues. We will examine what contemporary philosophy, religion and art, and contemporary views of natural and social science have to say about these issues, and about the relationship between individual and societal values regarding these issues. The goal of this course is to develop awareness in our students of these issues and a basis to pursue future study. (Spring) Kastenberg
& G. Hauser-Kastenberg » read more

This course introduces the concepts of analytic modeling and computer simulation, using small projects drawn from the multidisciplinary areas of Computational Engineering Science. Those areas covered span biology, chemistry, applied mathematics, and physics, as well as all areas of engineering. Models will progress sequentially through problem statement, mathematical model, approximations and analytic solution, discrete model, object-oriented model, implementation and simulation, visualization, and comparison to analysis, experiment and observation. Prerequisites: Junior/Senior/Graduate standing, Engin. 7 (or equiv.), Math 53, Math 54
Verboncoeur » read more

Energetics and kinetics of nuclear reactions and radioactive decay, fission, fusion, and reactions of energetic neutrons, properties of the fission products and the actinides; nuclear models and transition probabilities; interaction of radiation with matter. (Fall) Norman » read more

Basic science of radiation measurement, nuclear instrumentation, neutronics, radiation dosimetry. Two one-hour lectures per week emphasize the principles of radiation detection. A weekly four-hour laboratory applies a variety of radiation detection systems to the practical measurements of interest for nuclear power, nuclear and non-nuclear science, and environmental applications. (Spring) Vetter » read more

Introduction to medical imaging physics and systems, including x-ray computed tomography (CT), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), positron emission tomography (PET), and SPECT; basic principles of tomography and an introduction to unfolding methods; resolution effects of counting statistics, inherent system resolution and human factors. (Fall) Vetter » read more

Effects of irradiation on the atomic and mechanical properties of materials in nuclear reactors. Fission product swelling and release; neutron damage to structural alloys; fabrication and properties of uranium dioxide fuel. (Fall) Wirth » read more

Components and material flow sheets for nuclear fuel cycle, waste characteristics, sources of radioactive wastes, compositions, radioactivity and heat generation; waste treatment technologies; waste disposal technologies; safety assessment of waste disposal. (Fall or Spring) Ahn » read more

Catalog Description:

Laboratory and Lecture. Use of nuclear measurement techniques to detect clandestine movement and/or possession of nuclear materials by third parties. Nuclear detection, forensics, signatures, and active and passive interrogation methodologies will be explored. Techniques currently deployed for arms control and treaty verification will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on common elements of detection technology from the viewpoint of resolution of threat signatures from false positives due to naturally occurring radioactive material. Laboratory will involve experiments conducted in the Nucleonics Laboratory featuring passive and active neutron signals, gamma ray detection, fission neutron multiplicity, and U and Pu isotopic identification and age determination. Students should be familiar with alpha, beta, gamma and neutron radiation and basic concepts of nuclear fission. Morse » read more

Neutron interactions, nuclear fission, and chain reacting systematics in thermal and fast nuclear reactors. Diffusion and slowing down of neutrons. Criticality condition and calculations of critical concentrations, mass and dimensions. Nuclear reactor dynamics and reactivity feedbacks. Production and transmutation of radionuclides in nuclear reactors. (Spring) Vujic » read more

Computational methods used to analyze radiation transport described by various differential, integral, and integro-differential equations. Numerical methods include finite difference, finite elements, discrete ordinates, and Monte Carlo. Examples from neutron and photon transport; numerical solutions of neutron/photon diffusion and transport equations. Monte Carlo simulations of photon and neutron transport. An overview of optimization techniques for solving the resulting discrete equations on vector and parallel computer systems. (Spring) Wirth » read more

Energy conversion in nuclear power systems; design of fission reactors; thermal and structural analysis of reactor core and plant components; thermal-hydraulic analysis of accidents in nuclear power plants; safety evaluation and engineered safety systems. (Fall) Peterson » read more

Radiation Biophysics and Dosimetry. Three hours of lectures per week. Interaction of radiation with matter; physical, chemical, and biological effects of radiation on human tissues; dosimetry units and measurements; internal and external radiation fields and dosimetry; radiation exposure regulations; sources of radiation and radioactivity; basic shielding concepts; elements of radiation protection and control; theories and models for cell survival, radiation sensitivity, carcinogenesis and dose calculation. (Spring) Vujic » read more

Principles and methods used in the safety evaluation of nuclear power plants. Safety philosophies, design criteria, and regulations. Deterministic and probabilistic models, reliability analysis, nuclear and thermal-hydraulic transients, radiological consequences, and risk assessment. Design-basis and severe accident analysis, role of engineered safety systems, siting, and licensing. (Fall) Kastenberg » read more

A. DESIGN IN NUCLEAR POWER TECHNOLOGY AND INSTRUMENTATION (3 units)

Design of various fission and fusion power systems and other physically based applications. Each semester a topic will be chosen by the class as a whole. In addition to technology, the design should address issues relationg to economics, the environment and risk assessment. (Spring) Ahn, Vujic

B: NUCLEAR DESIGN: DESIGN IN BIO-NUCLEAR, NUCLEAR MEDICINE AND RADIATION THERAPY
(3 units)

A systems approach to the development of procedures for nuclear medicine and radiation therapy. Each semester a specific procedure will be studied and will entail the development of the biological and physiological basis for a procedure, the chemical and biochemical characteristics of appropriate drugs, dosimetric requirements and limitations, the production and distribution of radionuclides and/or radiation fields to be applied, and the characteristics of the instrumentation to be used. (Spring)Ahn, Vujic » read more

Methodological approaches for the quantification of technological risk and risk based decision-making. Probabilistic safety assessment, human health risks, environmental and ecological risk analysis. (Fall) Peterson » read more

Introduction to energy production by controlled thermonuclear reactions. Nuclear fusion reactions, energy balances for fusion systems, survey of plasma physics, neutral beam injection, RF heating methods, vacuum systems, tritium handling. (Fall) Morse » read more

Course may be repeated for credit. Must be taken on a passed/not-passed basis. Prerequisites: Upper division standing. Group studies of selected topics. (Fall, Spring)

Course may be repeated for credit for a maximum of 4 units per semester. Individual conferences. Must be taken on a passed/not-passed basis. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and major advisor. » read more

Interaction of gamma rays, neutrons, and charged particles with matter, nuclear structure and radioactive decay, cross sections and energetics of nuclear reactions, nuclear fission and the fission products, fission and fusion reactions as energy sources. Offered even-numbered years. (Spring) Norman » read more

Physical aspects and computer simulation of radiation damage in metals. Void swelling and irradiation creep. Mechanical analysis of structures under irradiation. Sputtering, blistering and hydrogen behavior in fusion reactor materials. Offered odd-numbered years. (Spring) Olander » read more

Structural metals in nuclear power plants, properties and fabrication of Zircaloy, aqueous corrosion of reactor components, structural integrity of reactor components under combined mechanical loading, neutron irradiation, and chemical environment. Offered even-numbered years. (Spring) Olander » read more

Multi-barrier concept; ground water hydrology, mathematical modeling of mass transport in heterogeneous media, source term for far-field model, near-field chemical environment, radionuclide release from waste solids, modeling of radionuclide transport in the near field, effect of temperature on repository performance, effect of water flow, effect of geochemical conditions, effect of engineered barrier alteration, overall performance assessment, performance index, uncertainty associated with assessment, regulation and standards. (Spring) Ahn » read more

Foundation in nuclear fuel cycle with topics ranging from nuclear-fuel reprocessing to waste treatment and final disposal. The emphasis is on the relationship between nuclear-power utilization and its environmental impacts. The goal is for graduate engineering students to gain sufficient understanding in how nuclear-power utilization affects the environment, so that they are better prepared to design an advanced system that would result in minimized environmental impact. The lectures will consist of two parts. The first half includes mathematical models for individual processes in a fuel cycle, such as nuclear fuel reprocessing, waste solidification, repository performance, and nuclear transmutation in a nuclear reactor. In the second half, these individual models are integrated, which enables students to evaluate environmental impact of a fuel cycle. (Alternate Spring semesters) Ahn » read more

Laboratory and Lecture. Use of nuclear measurement techniques to detect clandestine movement and/or possession of nuclear materials by third parties. Nuclear detection, forensics, signatures, and active and passive interrogation methodologies will be explored. Techniques currently deployed for arms control and treaty verification will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on common elements of detection technology from the viewpoint of resolution of threat signatures from false positives due to naturally occurring radioactive material. Laboratory will involve experiments conducted in the Nucleonics Laboratory featuring passive and active neutron signals, gamma ray detection, fission neutron multiplicity, and U and Pu isotopic identification and age determination. Students should be familiar with alpha, beta, gamma and neutron radiation and basic concepts of nuclear fission. (Spring) Morse

Course may be repeated for credit as topic varies. One hour of seminar per week. The Berkeley Seminar Program has bee designed to provide new students with the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member in a small-seminar setting. Berkeley Seminars are offered in all campus department, and topics vary from department to department and semister to semister. (Spring/Fall) Professor varies semester to semester.

Engineering 117 recommended. Fission characteristics, neutron chain reactions, neutron transport and diffusion theory, reactor kinetics, multigroup methods, fast and thermal spectrum calculations, inhomogeneous reactor design, effects of poisons and fuel depletion Offered odd-numbered years. (Spring) Vujic » read more

Computational methods used to analyze nuclear reactor systems described by various differential, integral, and integro-differential equations. Numerical methods include: finite difference, finite elements, discrete ordinate, and Monte Carlo. Examples from neutron and photon transport, heat transfer and thermal hydraulics. An overview of optimization techniques for solving the resulting discrete equations on vector and parallel computer systems. (Fall) Vujic » read more

Fluid dynamics and heat transfer, thermal and hydraulic analysis of nuclear reactors, two-phase flow and boiling; compressible flow, stress analysis; energy conversion methods. Offered even-numbered years. (Fall) Peterson » read more

Principles and techniques of economic analysis to determine capital and operating costs, fuel management and fuel cycle optimization, thermal limits on reactor performance, thermal converters, and fast breeders; control and transient problems, reactor safety and licensing, release of radioactivity from reactors and fuel processing plants. Offered even-numbered years. (Fall) Greenspan » read more

Principles and methods used in safety evaluation of complex engineered systems with principle emphasis on fission and fusion nuclear power plants. Safety philosophies regarding design, siting, operation and regulation. Deterministic and probabilistic models and methods, including seismic safety, fires and system stability. (Spring) Peterson » read more

Principles and methods for assessing and managing technological risks. Probabilistic safety assessment, environmental and public health risk assessment, risk-based decision making and risk-based regulation. Application to aerospace, chemical, energy, environmental, manufacturing and nuclear systems, with consideration of institutional issues. Offered odd-numbered years. (Fall) Peterson » read more

Engineering and design of fusion systems. Introduction to controlled thermonuclear fusion as an energy economy, from the standpoint of the physics and technology involved. Case studies of fusion reactor design. Engineering principles of support technology for fusion systems. Offered even-numbered years. (Spring) Morse » read more

Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: Graduate standing, NE 180 or equivalent. Topics in this course will include the latest technology of various types of ion and electron sources, extraction and formation of charge particle beams, computer simulation of beam propagation, diagnostics of ion sources and beams, and the applications of beams in fusion, synchrotron light source, neutron generation, microelectronics, lithography, and medical therapy. This is a general accelerator technology and engineering course that will be of interest to graduate students in physics, electrical engineering, and nuclear engineering. (Fall) Leung » read more

Three hours lab/discussion per week. Prerequisites: Must be enrolled in NE 282 . Optional laboratory designed to accompany NE 282. Ion and electron source operation and beam formation will be demonstrated experimentally. Lab sessions will be held at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory(Fall) Leung » read more

This course will cover the fundamentals of subsurface nuclear technology and its applications to 1) infer the porosity, the density, elemental composition and fluid saturation of subsurface media; 2) identify fluid movement in reservoirs, 3) determine fluid characteristics in complex fluid regimes, and 4) perform borehole diagnostics, using neutron and photon measurement and simulation techniques. Application of computational methods will also be covered. (Spring) Vujic, Badruzzaman » read more

Six hours of lecture per week in the summer. This course introduces the fundamental concepts for sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of mathematical models of physical, engineering, biological, etc, processes. Being self-contained, the course also provides a review of the mathematical tools needed for sensitivity and uncertainty analysis, assembled from linear algebra, differential and integral equations, numerical methods, operators and differential calculus in vector spaces. (Summer) Cacuci » read more

This course is intended for graduate students interested in acquiring a foundation in uncertainties associated with safety assessment for geologic disposal of high-level radioactive wastes and spent nuclear fuels. The safety assessment for the geologic disposal system for high-level radioactive wastes needs to cover a time period of 10,000 years or longer, and to take into account heterogeneities observed in geologic formations. Understanding the nature of uncertainties in the assessment results is a key to making right decisions in radioactive waste management. The goal is for graduate engineering students to gain sufficient understanding of how the uncertainties can be quantitatively evaluated. (Fall) Ahn » read more

This course introduces the fundamentals of plasma simulation methods, focusing on particle methods. The course will include treatment of electrostatic and electromagnetic models in the classical and relativistic regimes for collisional and collisionless plasmas. Emphasis is on bounded plasmas, including models for field and particle interaction with boundaries. Fluid and Monte Carlo collision models will be addressed. Applications will be drawn from basic plasma physics, beams, low temperature plasmas (e.g. lighting, materials processing, thrusters) and high temperature plasmas (magnetic fusion), wave-particle interactions (microwave sources, laser-plasma interactions, accelerators). (Summer) Verboncoeur » read more

This course is intended for graduate students interested in acquiring a foundation in the scientific and regulatory basis for environmental safety for nuclear fuel cycles. As we mark significant progress with nuclear fuel cycles, we need to establish in parallel the technical capability to regulate the fuel-cycle facilities for safety, security, and environmental protection for the public. In particular, the nuclear fuel cycle will require the design, construction and operation of facilities, containing plutonium and minor actinides, for spent fuel reprocessing, for fuel fabrication, for transportation, and for fabrication and storage of nuclear waste packages. As avoidance of environmental contamination is of paramount importance for public safety, it is essential to expose the new generation of nuclear engineers to the environmental safety fundamentals including regulations, and equip them with basic computational capability. (Fall) Ahn » read more

Comprehensive introduction to charged particle accelerator systems with high space charge intensity. Provides a foundation for research and design of systems with intensities sufficiently high so that mutual interactions of the particles in a beam focused and accelerated by applied electric and magnetic fields can not be neglected. Methodologies systematically developed by applying dynamics, electromagnetic theory, and plasma physics. Appropriate for students in engineering and physics. (Spring) Verboncoeur » read more

One and one-half hours of lecture per week. Must be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. » read more

Course may be repeated for credit. One and one-half hours of seminar per week. Must be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. » read more

Introduction to topics and issues in nuclear engineering; nuclear reactions and radiation, radiation protection and control, energy production and utilization, nuclear fuel cycle, reactor theory, nuclear power engineering, reactor operation, controlled fusion, nuclear waste, and medical and other applications of radiation, advanced research topics. (Fall) Wirth

Catalog Description

• Issues in Nuclear Science and Engineering. Two hours of lecture
  per week. Introduction to technical, social, institutional, and
  ethical issues in nuclear engineering; nuclear reactions and radiation,
  radiation protection and control, nuclear energy production and
  utilization, nuclear fuel cycle, reactor safety, controlled fusion,
  nuclear waste, medical, and other applications of radiation, nuclear
  nonproliferation and arms control and engineering ethics.

Course Prerequisite

• None

Prerequisite knowledge and/or skills

• The course provides a general interest introduction to issues
  in nuclear science and engineering and does not require prerequisite
  knowledge or skills:

Textbook(s) and/or other required material

• Nuclear Energy 5th Edn., R.L. Murray, Pergamon Press
  (2001).

Course objectives and outcomes

Course Objectives: » read more

Course may be repeated for credit. Course does not satisfy unit or residence requirements for doctoral degree. Must be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. » read more