Three weeks have elapsed since the East Japan earthquake and tsunami triggered the crisis at the Fukushima nuclear reactors. Despite many optimistic predictions for a quick resolution to a minor mishap, it is clear that it will take a long time to even determine the exact condition of the reactors and spent fuel pools, not to mention any remediation of the radiation hazard in the immediate area. Data dissemination by TEPCO and the Japanese government has not exactly been smooth since the accident, and this has largely contributed to the confusion. Nonetheless, there has been much speculation and fitting together of puzzle pieces by visitors to this website and others.
But this post is not geared toward understanding what is going on at Fukushima, but rather on improving our collective understanding of all things nuclear. The goal is a compendium of educational and utility resources to make us better prepared to discuss what is happening in Japan and what will happen with nuclear power in the future. Suggestions by readers are requested. Let’s keep it civil.
There are many reasons that many feel compelled to come here and follow or contribute to the conversation while the crisis is still unfolding. While it is unlikely that we will in any way contribute to the resolution of the immediate problem in Japan, we are all responsible for the decisions that are being and will be made about the future of nuclear power elsewhere in the world. One thing that hinders a more streamlined discussion of the fate of Fukushima, as well as nuclear power in general, is that nuclear physics and engineering are not easy subjects. The science is rather unintuitive and beyond people’s everyday experience. An event like this happens, and everyone is forced to confront their own lack of expertise.
But nuclear physics has been around along time, and certainly in the beginning years of the nuclear age, there was a need to explain the basic concepts in such a way that people could understand it at some level. And scientists at many universities and laboratories have also made available some excellent material. I have identified some links that I believe are very good, and I will plant the seed by listing them below. If you know of others, please submit them in the comments. The best of these will get brought up top. This list is meant to be rather dynamic, and categories might get added as time goes on. No commentary or news on current events, though; use the Fukushima open threads for this.
Note: it is not claimed that any resource is completely without bias — if that is indeed possible. If you feel that the resources are heavily slanted one way of the other, suggest others.
Tutorials and Texts
- Nuclear Chemistry and the Community
This is a rather comprehensive basic tutorial by Frank Settle, developed with support from the NSF.
- Radiation and Radioactivity
From the Health Physics Society and the University of Michigan. Rather brief introductions to several concepts.
- A Teacher’s Guide to the Nuclear Science Wall Chart
From Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
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The Nuclear Energy Option
This is an online book by Bernard L. Cohen, written in 1990.
Atom and Isotope References
- The Lund/LBNL Nuclear Data Search
From Chu and company at LBNL
- Theo Gray’s Periodic Table
Drill into an element for full technical data, known isotopes, and decay chains.
Tools and Visualizations
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Wise Project Calculators
A plethora of javascript calculators for nuclear decay profiles etc.
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Java Programs for Calculating Properties of Nuclear Fuels and Wastes
From the Energy from Thorium blog.
* Cross Sections
* Decay Chains
* Isotope Separation
* Spent Nuclear Fuel
* Ternary Mixtures
Videos
- A is for Atom
Original video produced by General Electric to get the public comfortable with nuclear power.
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A is for Atom — BBC Documentary
Some reasons why the GE vision didn’t quite go as planned.
Books
- “Nuclear Reactor Engineering”, by Glasstone & Sesonske
- “Sourcebook on Atomic Energy”, by Glasstone
- Power to Save the World: The Truth about Nuclear Energy by Gwyneth Cravens
- Megawatts and Megatons: The Future of Nuclear Power and Nuclear Weapons by Garwin and Charpak
