After-Pop! What is Reactor Physics?

Ever wonder how tiny particles can power whole cities? In this After-Pop! we follow our previous episode with Ikhwan Khaleb and dive into the world of reactor physics — the science behind nuclear chain reactions, neutrons, and keeping everything safe and steady.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What reactor physics actually means (and why it matters).

• The “life cycle” of a neutron, from birth to absorption.

• How scientists keep reactors balanced using criticality.

• What students study in reactor physics classes.

Wanna learn more about reactor physics straight from the (peer-reviewed) source?

Checkout these guides:  

1. Stacey, W. M. (2018). Nuclear Reactor Physics (3rd ed.). Wiley-VCH.

   • Comprehensive textbook covering neutron life cycles, chain reactions, and reactor kinetics.

2. Lamarsh, J. R., & Baratta, A. J. (2017). Introduction to Nuclear Engineering (4th ed.). Pearson.

   • Widely used undergraduate text explaining the fundamentals of reactor physics in accessible language.

3. Duderstadt, J. J., & Hamilton, L. J. (1976). Nuclear Reactor Analysis. Wiley.

   • Classic reference on neutron transport, diffusion theory, and criticality.

4. American Nuclear Society (ANS). (2021). Nuclear Science and Technology Basics.

   • Introductory resource created by professional nuclear engineers.
     https://www.ans.org/nuclear-basics/

5. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). (2022). Reactor Concepts Manual: Nuclear Physics Fundamentals.

   • A regulatory training document explaining fission, chain reactions, and control systems.
     https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/students.html