College of Sciences

Radiochemistry Fuel Cycle Summer School

Sponsors/Organizers

Sponsored by the Department of Energy-Nuclear Energy and organized by the
Radiochemistry Program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Dates

5 June to 15 July 2011, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Description

This summer school focuses on training undergraduates in chemistry, physics, health physics, or nuclear engineering in the fundamentals of radiochemistry with an emphasis on the nuclear fuel cycle. The six week summer school is an intensive course in radiochemistry with a focus on the nuclear fuel cycle. Radiochemistry is introduced through the physics of radioactive decay and chemistry of radioelements, providing an intellectual intersection of the periodic table and chart of the nuclides. The course begins with a description of the chart of the nuclides, detailing the information, concepts, and data used as a foundation for exploring isotopes. Details on alpha decay, beta decay, gamma decay, and fission are presented. The methods and data from the investigation of nuclear properties, nuclear forces and nuclear structure are described. The fundamental chemical properties in radiation and radiochemistry, including the relationship between speciation, kinetics and thermodynamics, the influence of radiolysis on chemistry, radioisotope production and separations will be explored. The use of radiochemistry in research and technology is explored with attention given to the nuclear fuel cycle. The modern nuclear fuel cycle is presented from fundamental chemistry to engineering applications. Textbooks and published literature are used as reading material.