nuclear physics
Subatomic particle study
Nuclear physics is the branch of physics concerned with the structure and behavior of atomic nuclei—the dense core of atoms containing protons and neutrons.
The field encompasses radioactivity, nuclear reactions, fission, and fusion.
Nuclear physics underlies both nuclear weapons and nuclear power generation: She studied nuclear physics before joining the energy department.
Self-sustaining causal sequence
- critical massThreshold for self-sustaining reaction
- uranium-235Fissile nuclear isotope
- plutonium-239Fissile actinide isotope
- reactor coreCentral fission zone
control rods · moderator · fuel rods · meltdown · coolant · breeding · enrichment · centrifuge
Uncharged nuclear particle
- protonPositive nuclear particle
- electronNegative subatomic particle
- quarkFundamental matter particle
- leptonFundamental particle without strong interactions
gluon · boson · fermion · hadron · meson · baryon · neutrino · photon
Electrified matter state
- tokamakPlasma confinement device
- deuteriumHydrogen isotope with neutron
- tritiumHydrogen's radioactive isotope
- helium-3Light noble gas variant
ignition · confinement · thermonuclear · inertial confinement · magnetic confinement · sun · breakeven · pinch
Emitted helium nuclei
- beta particlesElectrons from radioactive decay
- gamma raysHighest-frequency electromagnetic radiation
- ionizing radiationElectron-displacing electromagnetic energy
- radioactive decayUnstable atoms releasing energy
half-life · Geiger counter · dosimeter · gray · shielding · exposure · contamination · fallout
Device speeding subatomic bits
- cyclotronSpiral-path particle accelerator
- synchrotronCircular charged-particle accelerator
- colliderDual-beam particle accelerator
- CERNEuropean nuclear research organization
detector · scattering · cross-section · beam · target · event · luminosity · calorimeter
Controlled fission apparatus
- power plantFacility producing electrical energy
- radiotherapyMedical radiation for cancer
- PET scanRadiotracer-based internal imaging
- carbon datingIsotope-based age measurement
smoke detector · irradiation · tracer · desalination · propulsion · weapons · warhead · deterrence
chain reaction
Self-sustaining causal sequence
- critical massThreshold for self-sustaining reaction
- uranium-235Fissile nuclear isotope
- plutonium-239Fissile actinide isotope
reactor core · control rods · moderator · fuel rods · meltdown · coolant · breeding · enrichment · centrifuge · yellowcake
neutron
Uncharged nuclear particle
lepton · gluon · boson · fermion · hadron · meson · baryon · neutrino · photon · positron
plasma
Electrified matter state
- tokamakPlasma confinement device
- deuteriumHydrogen isotope with neutron
- tritiumHydrogen's radioactive isotope
helium-3 · ignition · confinement · thermonuclear · inertial confinement · magnetic confinement · sun · breakeven · pinch
alpha particles
Emitted helium nuclei
- beta particlesElectrons from radioactive decay
- gamma raysHighest-frequency electromagnetic radiation
- ionizing radiationElectron-displacing electromagnetic energy
radioactive decay · half-life · Geiger counter · dosimeter · gray · shielding · exposure · contamination · fallout · radionuclide
particle accelerator
Device speeding subatomic bits
- cyclotronSpiral-path particle accelerator
- synchrotronCircular charged-particle accelerator
- colliderDual-beam particle accelerator
CERN · detector · scattering · cross-section · beam · target · event · luminosity · calorimeter · spectrometer
reactor
Controlled fission apparatus
- power plantFacility producing electrical energy
- radiotherapyMedical radiation for cancer
- PET scanRadiotracer-based internal imaging
carbon dating · smoke detector · irradiation · tracer · desalination · propulsion · weapons · warhead · deterrence · nonproliferation
- sciencesbiology, chemistry, astronomy, geology, mathematics
- STEMscience, engineering, mathematics, math, technology
- Physical Scienceschemistry, astronomy, geology, meteorology, mechanics
- nuclear energyuranium, plutonium, fission, fusion, reactor core
- nuclear scienceradiation, neutrons, atoms, fission, uranium
- science fieldsmolecular biology, neuroscience, genetics, cosmology, biochemistry
nuclear physicscosmology
Study of universal structure
astrophysics · astronomy · classical mechanics · Newtonian physics · thermodynamics
nuclear physicschemistry
Study of substances' interactions
biology · organic chemistry · humanities · life sciences · psychology
physical, physics, nuclear, nucleus, physically, physicist, metaphysics, astrophysics, physicists