Main menu >> Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering
Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering
J. F. Stubbins, Head
214 Nuclear Engineering Laboratory, 103 S. Goodwin Ave., MC-234, Urbana, IL 61801-2984
217-333-2295 • http://www.ne.uiuc.edu
J. F. Stubbins, Head
214 Nuclear Engineering Laboratory, 103 S. Goodwin Ave., MC-234, Urbana, IL 61801-2984
217-333-2295 • http://www.ne.uiuc.edu
Research in the Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering is broadly based on issues surrounding the production, transport, and interactions of radiation in all kinds of media. This includes the traditional areas of nuclear fission for production of electric power and nuclear fusion as a near-term analytical tool and as a future energy source.
In addition to these more traditional areas, the research efforts in the department now embrace a wide spectrum of plasma science, radiological science, materials science, and other related applications. Also included are topics involving national and global energy issues, particularly concerning the development and implementation of nuclear power sources. These areas reflect the creative interests and breadth of experience of the faculty of the department.
To best portray the full scope of research in the department, 11 topical groups have been selected to display current research efforts.
Primary research directions within the department support the continued role of nuclear power in meeting society's electric power needs through currently installed light water fission reactors and through development of advanced light water reactors 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.
Several research groups have made important contributions recently in these areas:
• inertial electrostatic confinement for fusion applications and for neutron, x-ray, and gamma radiation sources;
• energy cell performance for heat release and material transmutations;
• advanced computational techniques applied to stochastic radiation transport, smoke distribution in buildings, reactor physics and safety, including Lie groups and group invariant difference schemes;
• perceptual displays and temporal pattern recognition applied to reactor control and operation;
• nuclear nonproliferation and safeguards;
• fusion blanket and diverter materials behavior and performance;
• plasma processing of electronic materials, plasma-induced sputtering, and plasma measurements;
• nuclear radiation effects on materials and neutron scattering measurements;
• materials behavior under high-temperature corrosion and radiation bombardment environments, including nondestructive examination;
• combined neutron capture therapy and magnetic resonance imaging for cancer cell treatment; and
• thermal hydraulics, including multiphase flows, boiling in porous media, molten jet breakup, and turbulent structure modeling.
- Applied Plasma Physics
- Arms Control, Disarmament, and International Security
- Computational Mechanics
- Health Physics, Radiological, and Medical Applications
- Low-Energy Nuclear Reactions
- 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
- Journals and Books
- Papers Presented at Conferences and Symposia
- Theses
- Awards and Honors
