Research Areas
In addition to the more traditional areas in nuclear engineering, the research efforts in the department now embrace a wide spectrum of plasma science, radiological science, medical physics, materials science, and other related applications. Also included are topics involving national and global energy and security issues, particularly concerning the development and implementation of nuclear energy sources. These areas reflect the creative interests and breadth of experience of faculty members of the department.
These diverse research areas are presented in 13 topical groups:
Applied Plasma Physics
Arms Control, Disarmament, and International Security
Chemical Reaction
Computational Mechanics
Health Physics, Radiological, and Medical Applications
Low-Energy Nuclear Reactions
Nuclear Engineering Education and Outreach
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear Materials, Materials Science and Performance, Radiation Effects, and Waste Management
Nuclear Power, Operations, and Control
Reactor Physics and Reactor Kinetics
Space Propulsion and Power Systems
Thermal Hydraulics and Reactor Safety
Primary research directions within the department support the continued role of nuclear power in meeting society's electric power and energy resource needs through currently installed light water fission reactors and through development of advanced reactors, accelerator-based processes, and fusion systems for future applications. Other directions being pursued are broad applications of plasma to materials processing measurement sensing and other processes; development and utilization of radiation sources, including radiological and medical applications; advanced computational and analytical methods; thermal hydraulics and reactor safety; and nuclear materials.
