2013-2014 Graduate Catalog Downloadable PDF (10.71MB)

512 Course Descriptions/Nuclear EngineeringDepartment of Nuclear Engineeringengineering.tamu.edu/nuclearHead: Y. A. Hassan; Graduate Advisor: K. VierowThe nuclear engineer applies radiation and energy from nuclear sources to fields such as electricitygeneration, space craft propulsion, sterilization, food processing, industrial measurements and medicaldiagnostic and therapeutic treatments. Nuclear engineering is based on the principles of nuclear physicsthat govern radioactivity, fission and fusion; the production of heat and radiation in those processes;and the interaction of radiation with matter. The function of the nuclear engineer is to apply theseprinciples to a wide range of challenging technological problems.The Department of Nuclear Engineering offers the Master of Engineering, Master of Science andDoctor of Philosophy degrees. The department also offers courses and faculty supervision for studentspursuing the Doctor of Engineering degree. Admission to nuclear engineering requires a bachelor’sdegree in engineering, chemistry, mathematics or physics. Some nuclear physics background is highlydesirable. Mathematics through differential equations is required.Degree programs that include a minor field of study are encouraged. This minor field would normallyinclude graduate study in the area of the student’s baccalaureate degree. If the baccalaureatedegree is nuclear engineering, the student with the advice of his or her committee will select a suitableminor area of study. The department does not have a foreign language requirement for the PhD degree;however, successful completion of a departmental qualifying exam is required.Research opportunities are varied, with emphasis on nuclear fuels, solid/ion interactions, particletransport, large-scale scientific computing, materials and extreme environments, reactor safety, designof advanced nuclear reactors, thermal hydraulics, computational fluid mechanics, reactor kinetics andcontrol, plutonium disposition, space nuclear power systems, radiation interactions with living tissue,dosimetry and medical radionuclides.The department offers a wide variety of facilities for instructional and research purposes. Theseinclude a well-equipped radiation measurements laboratory, a sub-critical reactor laboratory, accessto a supercomputer facility and a University-wide UNIX network, a departmental computer facilityincluding interconnected UNIX and Windows workstations with an extensive software library, a radiochemistrylaboratory, thermal hydraulics laboratories, materials reseach laboratories, an AGN-201Mlow power nuclear reactor, five low-energy ion accelerators and a large TRIGA research reactor locatedat the Texas A&M University Nuclear Science Center. An 88-inch cyclotron is also available for researchin nuclear physics and engineering at the Cyclotron Institute.Professional Educational Programin Health PhysicsStudents interested in doctoral level studies in health physics can pursue these through the PhDprogram in nuclear engineering. In addition, a professional education program in health physics, leadingto the Master of Science degree in health physics, is available in the department.This area of specialized study in the Department of Nuclear Engineering is based strongly on thefundamental aspects of radiation effects on matter, internal and external dosimetry and environmentalaspects of nuclear power. The curriculum is such that students are educated at a professional level in thefield of radiation safety or health physics.A student is required to spend the initial academic year taking formal coursework in the Departmentof Nuclear Engineering and in other cooperating departments of the University. The summeris spent in opportunities providing on-the-job training in health physics as well as funded researchprojects suitable for the MS thesis. At least one additional semester is normally required to complete thecoursework and a research project for the Master of Science degree in Health Physics.Nuclear Engineering(NUEN)601. Nuclear Reactor Theory. (3-0). Credit 3. Neutron-nucleus interactions; neutron energy spectra;transport and diffusion theory; multigroup approximation; criticality calculations; cross-section processing;buildup and depletion calculations; modern reactor analysis methods and codes. Prerequisite:Approval of instructor.604. Radiation Interactions and Shielding. (3-0). Credit 3. Basic principles of radiation interactions andtransport, especially as related to the design of radiation shields. Radiation sources, nuclear reactions,radiation transport, photon interactions, dosimetry, buildup factors and fast neutron shielding. Prerequisites:NUEN 302 or equivalent; MATH 308; BS in engineering or physical sciences.