The book covers different aspects of nuclear physics. In chapters 1 to 4 basics of nuclear physics and interactions of elementary particles are considered. Topics covered are atomic structure, elementary particles (Chapter 1), properties of nucleus and nuclear particles (Chapter 2), nuclear transformations (Chapter 3) and interactions (Chapter 4). Chapter 5 talks about moderation of neutrons and thus sets stage for the chapters on nuclear reactors (Chapters 6, 7 & 9). The book also talk about shielding against radiation and dosimetry (Chapter 8). The reactors covered are water cooled graphite moderated, Graphite Gas-Cooled Reactors, Heavy-Water Reactors, Light-Water Reactors, Fast Reactors.The book was translated from the Russian by O. Rudnitskaya, andwas first published by Mir Publishers in 1975.CONTENTSConstants 7Chapter One.ATOMIC STRUCTURE AND ELEMENTARY PARTICLES 91.1. Atoms and Atomic Electricity 91.2. Nuclear Structure of the Atom 131.3. Structure of the Atomic Nucleus 191.4. Quantum Mechanics 211.5. Relativity Theory Formulae 321.6. Nuclear Effective Cross-Sections 381.7. Elementary Particles 441.8. Positron 541.9. Neutrino 561.10. Mesons 611.11. Antinucleons 691.12. Antimatter 72Chapter Two.PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ATOMIC NUCLEI 742.1. Nuclear Charge 742.2. Nucleus Size 762.3. Nuclear Moments 772.4. Nuclear Mass and Bond Energy 782.5. Nuclear Forces 922.6. Nuclear Models 1002.7. Excited Nuclear States 107Chapter Three.NUCLEAR TRANSFORMATIONS 1123.1. Radioactivity 1123.2. Alpha-Decay 1183.3. Beta-Decay 1273.4. Nuclear Gamma-Radiation 1373.5. Nuclear Reactions 1423.6. Heavy Nuclei Fission 158Chapter Four.INTERACTION OF MOVING PARTICLES WITH MATTER 1714.1. Heavy Charged Particles 1724.2. Fission Fragments 1784.3. Electrons 1804.4. Gamma-Quanta 1894.5. Neutrons 201Chapter Five.MODERATION AND DIFFUSION OF NEUTRONS 2315.1. Moderation of Neutrons 2315.2. Spectrum of Slowing-Down Neutrons 2395.3. Thermal Neutron Diffusion 2435.4. Diffusion of Slowing-Down Neutrons 256Chapter Six.NUCLEAR REACTOR 2656.1. Chain Reaction 2656.2. Multiplication Factor for Infinite Medium 2746.3. Number of Neutrons per Absorption Act 2776.4. Thermal Utilization Factor 2796.5. Resonance Escape Probability 2826.6. Fast Multiplication Factor 2936.7. Optimum Parameters of Multiplying Media 2946.8. Reactor Critical State 2966.9. Neutron Reflector 3136.10. Non-Critical Reactor 320Chapter Seven.PHYSICAL PROCESSES IN ACTUAL REACTORS 3317.1. Retention of Criticality in Time 3317.2. Nuclear Fuel Conversion 3347.3. Radioactive Poisoning of the Reactor 3477.4. Temperature Coefficient 356Chapter Eight.MATERIALS. BIOLOGICAL SHIELDING 3628.1. Materials for Nuclear Reactors 3628.2. Dosimetry and Shielding 370Chapter Nine.REACTORS OF ATOMIC POWER PLANTS 3769.1. Water-Cooled Graphite-Moderated Reactors 3769.2. Graphite Gas-Cooled Reactors 3849.3. Heavy-Water Reactors 3889.4. Light-Water Reactors 3909.5. Fast Reactors 395Bibliography 399Index 401