Nuclear Fission and Fusion

This is a 4 credit elective course for MSc fourth semester in Physics.

Course Objective: 

The objective of this course is to make the students aware of the technological advancement on nuclear fission and fusion in India and world-wide. It will introduce the physics as well as the technological designs of different nuclear reactors, its safety strategies, international proliferation risks and lastly the path ahead in terms of improvement of fission and fusion physics.

Learning Outcome: 

LO-1: The student will be able to understand the basic working principle of different fission reactors, distinguish the underlying physics of different fusion reactors world-wide. 

LO-2: They will be able to estimate the capacity of different nuclear weapons and its direct and long-term effects. 

LO-3: Stress will be given on the coherent world venture to harness the nuclear fusion energy for production of electricity from terrestrial reactors. 

LO-4: Students will also be exposed to cutting edge research problems on industrialisation of nuclear fusion reactors.

Course Content:

Unit I: Nuclear Fission: Theory

Neutron interactions with matter: Cross section, Beam attenuation, Radiative absorption.

Neutron energy distribution: Logarithmic energy decrement, Four-factor formula, Neutron flux spectrum, Fast reactors.

Neutron spatial distribution: spatial diffusion equation, Critical mass of uranium sphere and enrichment.

Time-dependent phenomena and reactor safety: Reactor stability.

The nuclear fuel cycle: Enrichment, Burnup, Interim storage.

Unit II: Nuclear Fission: Applications

Nuclear weapons.

Direct effect of nuclear war.

Long term effect of nuclear war.

Estimation of capacity of nuclear weapons.

Nuclear proliferation: History of nuclear proliferation, Proliferation risks.

Advanced reactor design: Generation III and III+ and IV reactors, Thorium cycle, Breed and burn in place.

Unit III: Nuclear Fusion: Theory

Power and particle balance.

Particle motion: Passing and trapped orbits, Bootstrap current.

Plasmas as fluids: Plasma control.

Macroscopic stability: Ideal MHD modes, Ballooning and kink modes.

Collisions and their effects.

Turbulent transport: Bohm and GyroBohm diffusion, Transport barriers, Global scaling.

Unit IV: Nuclear Fusion: Applications

Nuclear fusion via magnetic confinement.

Mirrors, Helimacs, Q-machines, Stellarators, Tokamaks.

Divertors and scrape-off-layers, Edge localised modes.

Neutron interactive materials.

Blankets, safety, waste and proliferation.

Inertial fusion energy.

Power plant concepts, development path and deployment.

Course Evaluation:

Internal Test 1  (25 Marks) 

Internal Test 2 (25 Marks)

Internal Test 3 (25 Marks)

Final Exam (50 Marks)

Final evaluation sheet will be prepared using the best TWO out of the three Internal Tests (25+25 = 50 Marks) + Final Exam (50 Marks).

Textbooks:

Theory of Nuclear Fission, by H J Krappe; K Pomorski; Springer (2012)

Nuclear Reactor Engineering: Reactor Design Basics, by S. Glasstone, A. Sesonske; Springer (2014)

Nuclear Energy: Principles, Practices and Prospects, by D. Bodansky; Springer (2005)

Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy, by Jeffrey P. Freidberg; Cambridge University Press (2010)

Methods in Nonlinear Plasma Theory, by Ronald C Davidson, Elsevier (1972)