HAC716C Fundamentals of Radioactivity (2 ECTS)

Presentation

Description:
The objective of this course unit is to provide students with a broad knowledge base ranging from the description of radioactive decay phenomena to the compilation of an inventory of natural, induced, and artificial radioactivity.

Hourly volumes:

CM: 12 hours
TD: 8 hours
TP: 0 hours
Field: 0 hours

Required prerequisites:

L3 science or health.

Recommended prerequisites:

Nothing to report

More information

Knowledge assessment:

written exam / final exam

Syllabus:

  • General information:
    • History and discoveries
    • Description of radioactive decay phenomena
    • Concept of decay period
    • Concepts of radioelement and radionuclide
    • Fertile or fissile material
    • Fission reaction and fission products
  • Radioactive decay chains:
    • Examples of affiliation to one or more bodies
    • Extension of the problem to the case of n-body lineages (Bateman's law)
    • Impact on the upstream part of the nuclear power cycle
    • Impact on the management of certain nuclear wastes
  • Radioactive families:
    • Case of families with natural decline 
    • Special role of radon 
    • Applications in geochemical dating methods 
  • Inventory of radioactive phenomena:
    • Naturally occurring radioactive phenomena
    • Artificial radioactive phenomena
    • Induced phenomena
    • Anthropogenic contribution
    • Role of Radon in the Radioecotoxicological Inventory
    • Chemical, physical, radiochemical, geochemical, and medical applications

Responsible: N. Dacheux, ICSM, UM
Administrative contact(s): Claudie Fabry