Introduction to Applied Nuclear Physics
MIT OpenCourseWare offers this core course in nuclear science and engineering, covering nuclear structure and how radiation interacts with matter. Topics include elementary quantum theory, nuclear forces, the shell model of the nucleus, alpha, beta, and gamma radioactive decay, and the behavior of charged particles, gamma rays, and neutrons as they pass through matter. The course also covers nuclear reactions, fission, and fusion, building toward the physics that underlies reactor design and radiation detection. Materials include lecture notes, problem sets, and exams from MIT's nuclear science curriculum, free to access through OpenCourseWare with no certificate offered. Suited to students with a background in quantum mechanics who want the physics foundation behind nuclear engineering applications rather than a qualitative survey.