Applied Nuclear Science
Prospective students should note that there is no intake in this degree for 2012.
Course overview
The Master of Applied Nuclear Science (MApplNucSci) and the Graduate Diploma in Applied Nuclear Science (GradDipApplNucSci) are designed to meet the growing needs both within Australia and globally for individuals with a postgraduate education and training in nuclear science and technology. Both award courses build upon a Physics major and provide a level and type of specialisation that is not available at the undergraduate level.
Candidates will normally commence their study in Semester 1, except with the permission of the Dean.
Course outcomes
Graduates of the MApplNucSci and GradDipApplNucSci degrees will have gained a comprehensive understanding of nuclear science and its applications. Graduates of the Master's program will have gained, in addition, research experience. Both courses will enable students to gain entry into the specialist field of nuclear science or into occupations where knowledge of this field is desirable. It will also provide an opportunity for those already working in the field of nuclear science to gain further experience in this field of science and technology.
Graduates of the Master of Applied Nuclear Science are eligible to apply for admission to a research degree (PhD).
Units of study table
| Unit of study | Credit points | A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
All Degrees: Core Units |
|||
| PHYS5011 Nuclear Physics |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| PHYS5012 Radiation Physics and Dosimetry |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| PHYS5013 Nuclear Instrumentation |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| PHYS5014 Applications of Nuclear Physics |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| PHYS5015 Reactor Physics and Systems |
6 | P PHYS5011 and PHYS5013 |
Semester 2 |
| PHYS5016 Nuclear Chemistry and Nuclear Fuel Cycle |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| PHYS5017 Energy Options and Environment |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| PHYS5018 Health Physics and Radiation Protection |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
Masters: Additional Core Unit |
|||
| PHYS5019 Research Methodology and Project |
24 | P Successful completion of the eight coursework units of the postgraduate coursework Masters degree for which the student is enrolled, equivalent to completion of the requirements for award of the Graduate Diploma. Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
Unit of study descriptions 2012
There is no intake into this degree in 2012.
The units available in 2012 are PHYS5011, PHYS5012, PHYS5018 and PHYS5019.
PHYS5011 Nuclear Physics
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: One 3 hour lecture per week Assessment: Assignments, written exam (100%)
This unit is normally undertaken as part of the Master of Applied Nuclear Science or the Graduate Diploma in Applied Nuclear Science or the Master of Medical Physics or the Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics. Nuclear properties, nuclear models, nuclear decays (gamma, beta, alpha and heavy ion decay), natural radioactivity and radioactive decay series, artificial radioactivity, nuclear reactions (including high energy nuclear particle induced spallation reactions), nuclear fission (spontaneous and induced fission) and nuclear fusion are covered.
PHYS5012 Radiation Physics and Dosimetry
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: One 2 hour lecture and one 1 hour practical per week. Assessment: Assignments, written exam (100%)
This unit is normally undertaken as part of the Master of Medical Physics degree or the Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics or the Master of Applied Nuclear Science or the Graduate Diploma in Applied Nuclear Science. Sources of radiation, interaction of radiation with matter, physical, chemical and biological effects of radiation in human tissue, physical principles of dosimetry, internal and external dosimetry, radiation units and measurement are covered.
PHYS5013 Nuclear Instrumentation
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: One 2 hour lecture and one 1 hour practical per week. Assessment: Assignments, written exam (100%)
This unit is normally undertaken as part of the Master of Applied Nuclear Science or the Graduate Diploma in Applied Nuclear Science. It covers principles and operation of nuclear particle detectors, gas-filled detectors (ionisation chambers, Geiger counter, proportional counter), scintillation detectors (organic and inorganic scintillators), solid state detectors (Surface barrier detectors, GeLi detectors, Pin diodes), nuclear track detectors, neutron detectors (BF3, He-3, He-4 detectors, fission counters), nuclear data acquisition methods and data analysis (counting statistics and error prediction).
PHYS5014 Applications of Nuclear Physics
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: One 2 hour lecture and one 1 hour practical per week. Assessment: Assignments, written exam (100%)
This unit is normally undertaken as part of the Master of Applied Nuclear Science or the Graduate Diploma in Applied Nuclear Science. It presents the diverse range of applications of nuclear physics, such as nuclear medicine (including hadron therapy), environmental science, geochronology and radiocarbon dating, biogeochemistry, Hydrology, and applications of radioisotopes in agriculture and industry. Neutron activation analysis and applications of neutron scattering in material space, accelerator technology in research (e.g., accelerator mass spectrometry, ion beam analysis) and issues related to nuclear safeguards are also covered.
PHYS5015 Reactor Physics and Systems
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: One 2 hour lecture and one 1 hour practical per week. Prerequisites: PHYS5011 and PHYS5013 Assessment: Assignments, written exam (100%)
This unit is normally undertaken as part of the Master of Applied Nuclear Science or the Graduate Diploma in Applied Nuclear Science. It covers the following: physical properties of neutrons, interaction of neutrons with matter, neutron cross-sections, nuclear fission, diffusion of neutrons, neutron moderation, neutron chain reacting systems, thermal and fast reactors, nuclear reactor dynamics, production and transmutation of radionuclides.
PHYS5016 Nuclear Chemistry and Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: One 2 hour lecture and one 1 hour practical per week. Assessment: Assignments, written exam (100%)
This unit is normally undertaken as part of the Master of Applied Nuclear Science or the Graduate Diploma in Applied Nuclear Science. It covers nuclear fuel materials, reactor fuel production, properties of fuel element materials, processing of spent fuel, nuclear waste disposal and transmutation methods, liquid waste, gaseous waste and solid waste.
PHYS5017 Energy Options and Environment
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: One 2 hour lecture and one 1 hour tutorial per week. Assessment: Major essay, assignments, tutorial paper and presentation, and short test (100%)
This unit is normally undertaken as part of the Master of Applied Nuclear Science or the Graduate Diploma in Applied Nuclear Science. It covers the following: fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas); renewable energies (solar, wind, wave, biomass, geothermal); nuclear electricity (fission); relative advantages; environmental impact and economical viability.
PHYS5018 Health Physics and Radiation Protection
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: One 2 hour lecture and one 1 hour practical per week. Assessment: Assignments, written exam (100%)
This unit is normally undertaken as part of the Master of Medical Physics degree or in the Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics or the Master of Applied Nuclear Science or the Graduate Diploma in Applied Nuclear Science. Physical and biological aspects of the safe use of ionising radiation, physical principles and underlying shielding design instrumentation, international and legislative requirements for radiation protection are covered. Factors affecting dose response of tissue are considered along with models describing characteristic behaviour.
PHYS5019 Research Methodology and Project
Credit points: 24 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Prerequisites: Successful completion of the eight coursework units of the postgraduate coursework Masters degree for which the student is enrolled, equivalent to completion of the requirements for award of the Graduate Diploma. Assessment: Report, research seminar (100%)
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
In this unit a research project is undertaken. The topic of the project will be determined in consultation with the course coordinator. In addition, the processes involved in conducting various forms of research, basic data analysis and interpretation, research writing and presentation skills are covered.