Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences Courses (NERS)

*For more information regarding course equivalencies please refer to the Course Equivalency section, under “How to Read a Course Description“, in the CoE Bulletin Website: https://bulletin.engin.umich.edu/courses/course-info/

200 Level Courses

NERS 201. Survey of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences
No Prerequisite (1 credit)
An introduction to the fields of nuclear engineering and radiological sciences. Special emphasis is placed on emerging topics and research in fields of (i) fission systems and radiation transport, (ii) nuclear materials and radiation effects, (iii) radiation measurements and imaging, and (iv) plasmas and nuclear fusion.

NERS 211 (ENSCEN 211). Introduction to Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences
Advisory Prerequisite: preceded or accompanied by Math 216. (4 credits)
Different forms of energy, the history of nuclear energy, the fundamentals of fission and fusion nuclear power, radiological health applications, and electromagnetic radiation in the environment. Current topics of interest such as radon, radioactive waste, and nuclear proliferation.

NERS 250. Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences
Prerequisite: Preceded or accompanied by Math 216 and Physics 240. No OP/F. (4 credits)
Technological, industrial and medical applications of radiation, radioactive materials and fundamental particles. Special relativity, basic nuclear physics, interactions of radiation with matter. Fission reactors and the fuel cycle.

NERS 290. Special Topics for Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. (1-3 credits)
Special topics offered at the first and second year level. The subject matter may change from term to term.

NERS 299. Directed Study in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences
Prerequisite: None. (1-3 credits)
Offers a direct study experience to 1st and 2nd year students in an area of interest to the student and faculty member. (Each hour of credit requires 3 – 4 hours of work per week. An oral presentation and/or written report is due at the end of the term.)

300 Level Courses

NERS 311. Elements of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences I
Advisory Prerequisites: concurrent enrollment in NERS 320.
Enforced Prerequisites: Physics 240. Minimum grade of “C”. (3 credits)
Photons, electrons, neutrons and protons. Particle and wave properties of radiation. Introduction to quantum mechanics. Properties and structure of atoms.

NERS 312. Elements of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences II
Prerequisite: NERS 250. Minimum grade of “C”. (3 credits)
Advisory prerequisite: NERS 311.
Nuclear properties. Radioactive decay. Alpha-, beta- and gamma- decays of nuclei. Nuclear fission and fusion. Radiation interactions and reaction cross-sections.

NERS 315. Nuclear Instrumentation Laboratory
Prerequisites: EECS 215 or EECS 314; preceded or accompanied by NERS 312. Minimum grade of C, No OP/F. (4 credits)
An introduction to the devices and techniques most common in nuclear measurements. Topics include the principles of operation of gas-filled, solid state and scintillation detectors for charged particle, gamma ray and neutron radiations. Techniques of pulse shaping, counting and analysis for radiation spectroscopy. Timing and coincidence measurements.

NERS 320: Applied Mathematics for Engineering Physics
Prerequisite: Math 216 or 286/396. Minimum grade of C, No OP/F. (4 credits)
Applied linear algebra, systems of ordinary differential equations, basic numerical methods, vector calculus with curvilinear coordinates, partial differential equations, and fundamentals of probability applied to applications including fluid mechanics, heat transfer, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, medical physics, radiological engineering, nuclear reactor physics, radiation transport, and reliability analysis. 

NERS 344. Fluid Mechanics for Nuclear Engineers
Prerequisite: NERS 311 and MECHENG 235. Minimum Grade of C, No OP/F. (3 credits)
Mass, momentum, and energy balance in lumped-parameter and differential forms. Hydrostatics. Laminar and turbulent flow in pipes. Application of fluid mechanics to nuclear components and systems.

400 Level Courses

NERS 421. Nuclear Engineering Materials
Prerequisites: MATSCIE220 or MATSCIE 250, NERS 312. (3 credits)
An introduction to materials used in nuclear systems and radiation effects in materials (metals, ceramics, semiconductors, organics) due to neutrons, charged particles, electrons and photons.

NERS 425. Application of Radiation
Prerequisite: NERS 312. (4 credits)
Applications of radiation interaction with matter using various forms (neutrons, ions, electrons, photons) of radiation, including activation analysis, neutron radiography, nuclear reaction analysis, Rutherford backscattering analysis, proton-induced x-ray emission, plasma-solid interactions and wave-solid interactions. Lectures and laboratory.

NERS 441. Nuclear Reactor Theory I
Prerequisite: NERS 312 and NERS 320, (No OP/F) or graduate standing. Minimum grade requirement of C for enforced prerequisites. (4 credits)
An introduction to the theory of nuclear fission reactors including neutron transport theory, the P1 approximation, diffusion theory, criticality calculations, reactor kinetics, neutron slowing down theory, and numerical solution of the diffusion equation.

NERS 442. Nuclear Power Reactors
Prerequisite: NERS 441 or graduate status. (2 credits)
Analysis of nuclear fission power systems including an introduction to nuclear reactor design, reactivity control, steady-state thermal-hydraulics and reactivity feedback, fuel cycle analysis and fuel management, environmental impact and plant siting and transient analysis of nuclear systems.

NERS 444. Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer
Prerequisite: NERS 344 (minimum grade of C); or graduate standing; or permission of instructor. (3 credits)
The objective of the course is to study the physical mechanisms underlying heat transfer modes, and the fundamental principles and laws of heat transfer. The course includes heat conduction, convective heat transfer, and heat transfer by radiation. A broad range of real-world applications is used to develop problem-solving skills.

NERS 462. Reactor Safety Analysis
Prerequisite: preceded or accompanied by NERS 441. (3 credits)
Analysis of design and operational features of nuclear reactor systems that are relevant to safety. Topics include radiation sources and exposure, engineered safety features, system reliability, transient and accident analysis, reactor containment and radionuclide source term, and NRC regulations and licensing. Emphasis will be placed on probabilistic risk assessment for representative nuclear power plants.

NERS 471. Introduction to Plasmas and Fusion 
Prerequisite: preceded or accompanied by Physics 240 or 260. (3 credits)
Single particle orbits in electric and magnetic fields, moments of Boltzmann equation and introduction to fluid theory. Wave phenomena in plasmas. Diffusion of plasma in electric and magnetic fields. Analysis of laboratory plasmas and magnetic confinement devices and applications, including fusion. Introduction to plasma kinetic theory.

NERS 472. Fusion Reactor Technology
Prerequisite: NERS 471. (3 credits)
Study of technological topics relevant to the engineering feasibility of fusion reactors as power sources. Basic magnetic fusion and inertial fusion reactor design. Problems of plasma confinement. Energy and particle balances in fusion reactors, neutronics and tritium breeding, and environmental aspects. Engineering considerations for ITER and NIF.

NERS 484. (BIOMEDE 484) Radiological Health Engineering Fundamentals
Prerequisite: MATH 216 or MATH 256 or MATH 286; or graduate standing. Minimum grade of a “C” required for enforced prerequisite. (4 credits)
Fundamental physics behind radiological health engineering and topics in quantitative radiation protection. Radiation quantities and measurement, regulations and enforcement, external and internal dose estimation, radiation biology, radioactive waste issues, radon gas, emergencies and wide variety of radiation sources from health physics perspective.

NERS 490. Special Topics in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. (1-4 credits)
Selected topics offered at the senior or first-year graduate level. The subject matter may change from term to term.

NERS 491. Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences Design 1
Co-requisite: NERS 441. Minimum grade of “C”. (1
credit)
Preparation of a proposal for the senior design project (NERS 492). Team selection, background literature review, identification/ familiarization with computational tools, writing reports, making presentations, writing a final report, and giving a final oral presentation. Experiments/Projects are overseen/graded by faculty and also involve mentoring by representatives from external organizations.

NERS 492. Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences Design 2Prerequisite: NERS 491. Minimum grade of “C”. (3 credits)
Carry out the design projects proposed in NERS 491. Present results in oral and written progress reports including a final presentation to the NERS community. Experiments/Projects are overseen/graded by faculty and also involve mentoring by representatives from external organizations.

NERS 499. Research in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Junior or senior status required. (1-3 credits)
This course offers research or directed study experience to 3rd or 4th year students in an area of interest to the student and faculty member.

500 Level Courses

NERS 511. Quantum Mechanics in Neutron-Nuclear Reactions
Prerequisite: NERS 312, Math 454. (3 credits)
An introduction to quantum mechanics with applications to nuclear science and nuclear engineering. Topics covered include the Schroedinger equation and neutron-wave equations, neutron absorption, neutron scattering, details of neutron-nuclear reactions, cross sections, the Breit-Wigner formula, neutron diffraction, nuclear fission, transuranic elements, the deuteron problem, masers and lasers.

NERS 512. Interaction of Radiation and Matter
Prerequisite: NERS 511. (3 credits)
Classical and quantum-mechanical analysis of the processes by which radiation interacts with matter. Review of nuclear structure and properties. Nuclear models. Nuclei as sources of radiation. Interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter. Interaction of charged particles with matter. Radiative collisions and theory of Bremsstrahlung. Interaction of neutrons with matter. Interaction mechanisms and cross sections are developed.

NERS 515. Nuclear Measurements Laboratory
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. (4 credits)
Principles of nuclear radiation detectors and their use in radiation instrumentation systems. Characteristics of important devices with applications in nuclear science. Gamma ray spectroscopy, fast and thermal neutron detection, charged particle measurements, pulse analysis, nuclear event timing and recent development in nuclear instrumentation.

NERS 518. Advanced Radiation Measurements and Imaging
Prerequisite: NERS 315 or NERS 515. (2 credits)
Detection and imaging of ionizing radiation that builds on a basic course in radiation measurements. Topics include statistical limits on energy and spatial resolution, analog and digital pulse processing, pulse shape analysis and discrimination, position sensing techniques, application of Ramo theorem for calculating induced charge and the use of statistical methods in data analysis. Specific devices used as examples of evolving technology include newly-developed scintillators and wave-shifters, optical sensors, gas-filled imaging and spectroscopic detectors, semiconductor spectrometers from wide bandgap materials, gamma ray/neutron imaging systems and cryogenic spectrometers.

NERS 521. Radiation Materials Science I
Prerequisite: NERS 421 permission of instructor. (3 credits)
Radiation damage processes; defect production, spike phenomena, displacement cascades, interatomic potential, channeling, focusing, slowing down. Physical effects of radiation damage, radiation induced segregation, dislocations, dislocation loop and void formation, phase stability, unique effects of ion irradiation, comparison between ion and neutron irradiation.

NERS 522. Radiation Materials Science II
Prerequisite: NERS 421, NERS 521 or permission of instructor. (3 credits)
Mechanical and environmental effects of irradiation. Mechanical effects include hardening, embrittlement, fracture and creep. Thermodynamics and kinetics of corrosion, corrosion in high temperature aqueous environments, stress corrosion cracking and effects of irradiation on corrosion and stress corrosion cracking.

NERS 524. Nuclear Fuels
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. (3 credits)
Nuclear reactor fuels and the fuel cycle; mining, processing, isotope separation and fabrication. Fuel/clad behavior; radiation damage, thermal response, densification, swelling, fission gas release, burn-up, clad corrosion, design and modeling. Spent fuel; characterization, performance, reprocessing, disposal.

NERS 531 (EECS529) (ENSCEN529). Nuclear Waste Management
Prerequisite: Senior Standing. (3 credits)
Based on the nuclear fuel cycle, this course will review the origin, composition, form and volumes of waste generated by commercial reactors and defense programs. The scientific and engineering basis for near-field and far-field containment in a geologic repository will be reviewed in the context of performance assessment methodologies.

NERS 532. Nuclear Safeguards
Prerequisite: NERS 315 or Graduate Standing. Minimum grade of a “C” for enforced prerequisites. (3 credits)
Students will be introduced to the history of nuclear-material safeguards, nuclear-safeguard techniques, international safeguards policy, and currently used neutron and gamma-ray measurement systems and techniques. Students will attend weekly lectures to prepare for a week-long training offered at the Safeguards Laboratory (SL) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). 

NERS 535. Detection Techniques of Nuclear Non-proliferation
Prerequisite: NERS 315 or equivalent. (4 credits)
Laboratory course covering recent techniques for the detection, identification, and characterization of nuclear materials. It includes the study of Monte Carlo simulation and measurement techniques through hands-on experiments with isotopic gamma ray and neutron sources.

NERS 543. Nuclear Reactor Theory II
Prerequisite: NERS 441 or equivalent. (3 credits)
A continuation of NERS 441 including neutron resonance absorption and thermalization, perturbation and variational methods, flux synthesis. Analytic and numerical solutions of the neutron transport equation including the Sn and B methods, collision probabilities and Monte Carlo methods.

NERS 544. Monte Carlo Methods
Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Engineering, Mathematics or Sciences. (3 credits)
Monte Carlo methods are applicable to a broad range of scientific disciplines. Topics include probability and statistics, generation of random variates, discrete and continuous Markov chains, random processes, Markov Chain Monte Carlo, simulated annealing, estimation techniques, variance reduction, perturbation methods, Green’s functions, and diffusion processes. Includes applications to particle transport.

NERS 546. Thermal Fluids for Nuclear Reactor Safety Analysis
Prerequisite: concurrently with or prior to NERS 441, ME 320, or CEE 325 or equivalent, or graduate standing. (3 credits)
This course gives a broad overview of thermal-hydraulics/fluids for nuclear reactor safety. First, the basic principles of mass energy and momentum are discussed for nuclear applications. Then group projects are performed using NRC computer codes for simulating light water and gas cooled reactors.

NERS 547 (NAVARCH 527, AEROSP 528). Computational Fluid Dynamics for Industrial Applications
Advisory Prerequisites: NERS 344, MECHENG 320, CEE 325 or equivalent. (3 credits)
Theoretical background on turbulence and modeling for single-phase and two-phase flow, and practical experience on using CFD codes. Evaluate simulations of 3-D flows, applicability/limitations of turbulence models, mesh generation and mesh convergence, numerical methods for solution of Navier-Stokes equation, theoretical exercises, computational project and presentation.

NERS 551. Nuclear Reactor Kinetics
Prerequisite: preceded or accompanied by NERS 441. (3 credits)
Derivation and solution of point reactor kinetic equations. Concept of reactivity, inhour equations and reactor transfer function. Linear stability analysis of reactors. Reactivity feedback and nonlinear kinetics. Space-dependent reactor kinetics and xenon oscillations. Introduction to reactor noise analysis.

NERS 554. Radiation Shielding
Prerequisite: NERS 441 or NERS 484; or graduate status. Minimum grade of “C”. (2 credits)
Neutron and photon transport using Monte Carlo and analytical methods.

NERS 555. Radiological Physics and Dosimetry
Prerequisite: NERS 312; or graduate standing; or permission of instructor. Minimum grade of a “C” required for enforced prerequisite. (2 credits)
Radiation physics, theoretical radiation dosimetry, fundamental radiometric quantities, fluence, exposure, kerma, collision kerma and dose for photons and electrons, equilibrium, Fano’s theorem, Monte Carlo methods, convolution method, cavity theory, saturation theory, and other analytic methods in the discipline, the dosimetry chain. Lectures and examples.

NERS 561. Nuclear Core Design and Analysis I
Prerequisite: NERS 441. (3 credits)
Analytical investigation of areas of special importance to the design of nuclear reactors. Includes development, evaluation and application of models for the neutronic, thermal-hydraulic and economic behavior of both thermal and fast reactors. Typical problems arising in both design and operation of nuclear reactors are considered. This course includes extensive use of digital computers.

NERS 562. Nuclear Core Design and Analysis II
Prerequisite: NERS 561. (3 credits)
Continuation of subject matter covered under NERS 561 with emphasis on applications of analytical models to the solution of current problems in reactor technology.

NERS 570. (ENGR 570) Methods and Practice of Scientific Computing
Advisory Prerequisite: MATH 371 or MATH 471.
Enforced Prerequisite: ENGR 101 or 151 or EECS 183 AND MATH 216 or 256 or 286; or Graduate Status. Minimum grade of “C” required for enforced prerequisite. (4 credits)
Designed for graduate students developing the methods and using the tools of scientific computing. Students learn how to use HPC clusters, and utilize community tools and software engineering best practices to develop their own codes. Students are expected to have had some introduction to programming, linear algebra, and differential equations.

NERS 571. Intermediate Plasma Physics I
Prerequisite: NERS 471 or Physics 405. (3 credits)
Single particle motion, collision and transport; plasma stability from orbital considerations; Vlasov and Liouville equations; Landau damping; kinetic modes and their reconstruction from fluid description; electrostatic and electromagnetic waves, cutoff and resonance.

NERS 572. (Appl Phys 672) Intermediate Plasma Physics II
Prerequisite: NERS 571. (3 credits)
Waves in non-uniform plasmas, magnetic shear; absorption, reflection and tunneling gradient-driven micro-instabilities; BGK mode and nonlinear Landau damping; macroscopic instabilities and their stabilization; non-ideal MHD effects.

NERS 573. Plasma Engineering
Prerequisite: NERS 471 or graduate standing. (3 credits)
This course covers the theory and application of plasma concepts relevant to plasma engineering problems encountered in the workplace. Focus areas addressed include plasma propulsion, semiconductor processing, lighting, and environmental mitigation. Students will accumulate over the term a toolbox of concepts and techniques directly applicable to real world situations.

NERS 574. Introduction to Computational Plasma Physics
Prerequisite: NERS 471 or 571. Minimum grade of a “B” required for enforced prerequisites. (3 credits)
An introduction to plasma simulation techniques, including fluid and Vlasov descriptions. Stability analysis. Finite difference and volume methods. The particle-in-cell method. Boundary conditions. Field solvers. Students will develop an understanding in the relationship between the hierarchy of kinetic models describing plasmas and their numerical equivalents. A series of short projects will demonstrate numerical modeling of plasma phenomena.

NERS 575 (EECS 519). Plasma Generation and Diagnostics Laboratory
Prerequisite: preceded or accompanied by a course covering electromagnetism. (4 credits)
Laboratory techniques for plasma ionization and diagnosis relevant to plasma processing, propulsion, vacuum electronics, and fusion. Plasma generation techniques includes: high voltage-DC, radio frequency, and e-beam discharges. Diagnostics include: Langmuir probes, microwave cavity perturbation, microwave interferometry, laser schlieren and optical emission spectroscopy. Plasma parameters measured are: electron/ion density and electron temperature.

NERS 576. Charged Particle Accelerators and Beams
Prerequisite: Physics 240 or 260; or EECS 230. (3 credits)
Principles of electrostatic and electrodynamic charged particle accelerators, magnetic and electrostatic focusing, transient analysis of pulsed accelerators. Generation of intense electron and ion beams. Dynamics, stability, and beam transport in vacuum, neutral and ionized gases. Intense beams as drivers of coherent radiation generation. Novel accelerations using plasma and dielectric materials.

NERS 577. Plasma Spectroscopy
Prerequisite: introductory courses in plasma and quantum mechanics. (3 credits)
Basic theory of atomic and molecular spectroscopy and its application to plasma diagnostics. Atomic structure and resulting spectra, electronic (including vibrational and rotational) structure of molecules and the resulting spectra, the absorption and emission of radiation and the shape and width of spectral lines. Use of atomic and molecular spectra as a means of diagnosing temperatures, densities and the chemistry of plasmas.

NERS 578 (EECS 517). Physical Processes in Plasmas
Prerequisites: EECS 330. (3 credits)
Plasma physics applied to electrical gas discharges used for material processing. Gas kinetics; atomic collisions; transport coefficients; drift and diffusion; sheaths; Boltzmann distribution function calculation; plasma simulation; plasma diagnostics by particle probes, spectroscopy, and electromagnetic waves; analysis of commonly used plasma tools for materials processing.

NERS 579. Introduction to the Science and Technology of Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion 
Prerequisites: None. (3 credits)
Course introduces students to the application of nuclear technology for space power and propulsion. Course provides students with the physics of mission trajectory analysis and the science behind nuclear power systems and propulsion approaches. With this background course surveys the history and state of the art In terms of nuclear space technologies. The course provides background for a team design project where the end goal Is the development of an all nuclear mission to the outer planets and beyond. The key design components Include nuclear power, propulsion, power conversion and rejection. mission analysis and shielding/life support.

NERS 581. Radiation Therapy Physics
Prerequisite: Physics 240 or 260; or graduate standing. Minimum grade of “C” required for enforced prerequisites. (3 credits)
Covers the physics concepts necessary for the understanding of modern radiation therapy techniques. External beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy fundamentals are covered, including treatment planning, evaluation, and delivery with an emphasis on current developments in the field.

NERS 582 (BIOMEDE 582). Medical Radiological Health Engineering
Prerequisite: MATH 216 or 256 or 286 and Physics 240 or 260; or graduate standing. Minimum grade of “C” required for enforced prerequisites. (3 credits)
This course covers the fundamental approaches to radiation protection in radiology nuclear medicine, radiotherapy, and research environments at medical facilities.  Topics presented include health effects, radiation dosimetry and dose estimation, quality control of imaging equipment, regulations, licensing and health physics program.

NERS 583. Radiological Dose Assessment and Response
Prerequisite: MATH 216 or 256 or 286 and Physics 240 or 260; or graduate standing. Minimum grade of “C” required for enforced prerequisites. (3 credits)
This course is structured around an event, such as a medical incident or nuclear accident, which encompasses open-ended problems common in radiological engineering practice. Student teams engage in standardized radiological dose assessment and apply radiation protection approaches culminating in comprehensive oral presentations and written reports.

NERS 584. Radiation Biology
Prerequisite: Senior or graduate standing. (3 credits) 
Lecture course covering three main areas of radiation biology: molecular and cellular radiation biology, radiation and human health, principles of radiation therapy.

NERS 585. Physics of Medical Imaging
No Prerequisite (3 credits) 
Physics, equipment and techniques basic to producing medical diagnostic images by x-rays, fluroscopy, computerized tomography of x-ray images, mammography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging systems. Lectures and demonstrations. 

NERS 586. Applied Radiological Measurements
Prerequisite: NERS 315/NERS 515 or equivalent. No OP/F. Advisory Prerequisite: NERS 484. (4 credits)
Instrumentation and applied measurements of interest for radiation safety, nuclear engineering, environmental sciences, and medical physics. Calibrations, surveys, quality control, dosimeters, radon gas, beta and gamma ray spectroscopy, background radiation, applied electronics, and other selected practical considerations. Oral and written technical communications.

NERS 588. Radiation Safety and Medical Physics Practicum
Prerequisite: permission of instructor; mandatory satisfactory/ unsatisfactory. (1-12 credits)
Individuals intern at a medical or industrial facility. Students concentrate on a specific radiological health engineering problem and participate in broader facility activities. Assignments are arranged by agreement among the student, faculty member and facility personnel.

NERS 590. Special Topics in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences II
Minimum grade of “C”. (1-4 credits)
Selected topics offered at the graduate level. The subject matter will change from term to term.

NERS 599. Master’s Project
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. (1-3 credits)
Individual or group investigations in a particular field or on a problem of special interest to the student. The course content will be arranged at the beginning of each term by mutual agreement between the student and a staff member. This course may be repeated for up to 6 credit hours.

600 Level Courses

NERS 621 (EES 629) (MATSCIE 621) (ENSCEN 620). Nuclear Waste Forms
Prerequisites: NERS 531 (recommended). (3 credits)
This interdisciplinary course will review the materials science of radioactive waste remediation and disposal strategies. The main focus will be on corrosion mechanisms, radiation effects and the long-term durability of glasses and crystalline ceramics proposed for the immobilization and disposal of nuclear waste.

NERS 622 (MFG 622) (MATSCIE 622). Ion Beam Modification and Analysis of Materials
Prerequisite: NERS 421, NERS 521 or MATSCIE 351 or permission of instructor. (3 credits)
Ion-solid interactions, ion beam mixing, compositional changes, phase changes, micro-structural changes; alteration of physical and mechanical properties such as corrosion, wear, fatigue, hardness; ion beam analysis techniques such as RBS, NRA, PIXE, ion channeling, ion microprobe; accelerator system design and operation as it relates to implantation and analysis.

NERS 644. Transport Theory
Prerequisite: Math 555. (3 credits)
Mathematical study of linear transport equations with particular application to neutron transport, plasma physics, photon transport, electron conduction in solids, and rarefied gas dynamics; one-speed transport theory; Wiener-Hopf and singular eigen function methods; time-dependent transport processes; numerical methods including spherical harmonics, discrete ordinates and Monte Carlo techniques; non-linear transport phenomena.

NERS 671. Theory of Plasma Confinement in Fusion Systems
Prerequisite: NERS 572 advised. (3 credits)
Study of the equilibrium, stability and transport of plasma in controlled fusion devices. Topics include MHD equilibrium for circular and non-circular cross section plasmas; magneto-hydrodynamic and micro-instabilities; classical and anomalous diffusion of particles and energy and scaling laws.

NERS 672 (SPACE 545). High Energy Density Physics
Prerequisite: None. Advisory Prerequisite: MATH 450, PHYSICS 405 & PHYSICS 406. (3 credits)
Fundamental tools and discoveries of high-energy density physics, where pressures are above a million atmospheres. Fundamental physical models, equations of state, hydrodynamics including shocks and instabilities, radiation transport, radiation hydrodynamics, experimental technique, inertial fusion, experimental astrophysics and relativistic systems.

NERS 673. Electrons and Coherent Radiation
Prerequisite: NERS 471 or Physics 405. (3 credits)
Collective interactions between electrons and surrounding structure studied. Emphasis given to generation of high power coherent microwave and millimeter waves. Devices include: cyclotron resonance maser, free electron laser, peniotron, orbitron, relativistic klystron and crossed-field geometry. Interactions between electron beam and wakefields analyzed.

NERS 674 (Appl Phys 674). High Intensity Laser-Plasma Interactions
Prerequisite: NERS 471, NERS 571 or permission of instructor. (3 credits)
Coupling of intense electromagnetic radiation to electrons and collective modes in time-dependent and equilibrium plasmas, ranging from underdense to solid-density. Theory, numerical models and experiments in laser fusion, x-ray lasers, novel electron accelerators and nonlinear optics.

700 Level Courses

NERS 799. Special Projects
(1-6 credits)
Individual or group investigations in a particular field or on a problem of special interest to the student. The project will be arranged at the beginning of the term by mutual agreement between the student and a staff member.

900 Level Courses

NERS 990. Dissertation/Pre-Candidate
Prerequisite: (2-8 credits); (1-4 credits)
Dissertation work by doctoral student not yet admitted to status as candidate. The defense of the dissertation, that is, the final oral examination, must be held under a full-term candidacy enrollment.

NERS 995. Dissertation/Candidate
Prerequisite: Graduate School authorization for admission as a doctoral candidate. (8 credits); (4 credits)
Election for dissertation work by a doctoral student who has been admitted to candidate status. The defense of the dissertation, that is, the final oral examination, must be held under a full-term candidacy enrollment.