Documents the history of America's nuclear testing program, emphasizing the effects of the radioactive clouds the test blasts produced Read more

Whether you are a scientist or a poet, pro-nuclear energy or staunch opponent, conspiracy theorist or pragmatist, James Mahaffey's books have served to open up the world of nuclear science like never before. With clear explanations of some of the most complex scientific endeavors in history, Mahaffey's new book looks back at the atom's wild, secretive past and then toward its potentially bright future. Mahaffey unearths lost reactors on far-flung Pacific islands and trees that were exposed to active fission that changed gender or bloomed in the dead of winter. He explains why we have nuclear submarines but not nuclear aircraft and why cold fusion doesn't exist. And who knew that radiation counting was once a fashionable trend? Though parts of the nuclear history might seem like a fiction mash-up where cowboys somehow got a hold of a reactor, Mahaffey's vivid prose holds the listener in thrall of the infectious energy of scientific curiosity and ingenuity that may one day hold the key to solving our energy crisis or sending us to Mars. Read more

Bloomsbury presents Six Minutes to Winter: Nuclear War and How to Avoid It by Mark Lynas read by Tom Lawrence ‘Terrifying and timely, this is a book everyone should read and heed’ - George Monbiot 'Urgent, gripping and sobering, Six Minutes to Winter is a hair-raising wake-up call’ - David Wallace-Wells ‘Powerful and insightful. Although many have forgotten about nuclear weapons, we shouldn't’ - Charles Oppenheimer The world is currently closer to superpower conflict than at any time since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. World War III is a real possibility, and with 12,000 warheads in the arsenals of more than half a dozen countries, we are standing on a nuclear knife edge. Despite receiving very little attention, nuclear war is a far greater threat to humanity's immediate survival than climate change. While climate heating threatens humanity over many decades, nuclear war could destroy civilisation in just a few hours. A major missile exchange would mean months of near-total darkness, followed by a decade-long global nuclear winter that would destroy most life on Earth. Virtually everyone would starve in the resulting worldwide famine, and there would be no reliable refuge. We are sleepwalking to Armageddon. There are no mass marches, no COPs, no nuclear Greta. But the climate experience teaches us that ignoring a problem is no solution, and that a worldwide mobilisation can work. Six Minutes to Winter presents an unflinching view of the nuclear nightmare, but also describes how weapons can be taken off hair-trigger alert and ultimately abolished altogether. If human civilisation is to survive long term, we have no alternative. Read more

An account of the worst nuclear reactor accident in history from the 2015 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature  On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident contaminated as much as three quarters of Europe. Voices from Chernobyl is the first book to present personal accounts of the tragedy. Journalist Svetlana Alexievich interviewed hundreds of people affected by the meltdown—from innocent citizens to firefighters to those called in to clean up the disaster—and their stories reveal the fear, anger, and uncertainty with which they still live. Composed of interviews in monologue form, Voices from Chernobyl is a crucially important work of immense force, unforgettable in its emotional power and honesty and a National Book Critics Circle Award winner. Read more

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From the pilot's seat in the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, to Chernobyl's exclusion zone and to the site in Finland where highly radioactive waste will be buried, this is the incredible story of nuclear power.Providing a vivid account of the characters and events that have shaped the world's most controversial energy source and our thinking around it, The Power of Nuclear weaves politics, culture and technology to explore nuclear power's past and future.In his quest to disentangle myth from facts, Marco Visscher asks: How dangerous is radiation? What should you do after a nuclear accident? Have nuclear weapons really made the world less safe? And why do some still reject the evidence showing the atom can provide unlimited clean energy, free countries of their dependence on fossil fuels and combat climate change?This is an informed look at what we might do with nuclear power - and what nuclear power is doing to us. Read more

Have you ever wondered how a nuclear power station works? This lively book will answer that question. It’ll take you on a journey from the science behind nuclear reactors, through their start-up, operation and shutdown. Along the way it covers a bit of the engineering, reactor history, different kinds of reactors and what can go wrong with them. Much of this is seen from the viewpoint of a trainee operator on a Pressurised Water Reactor - the most common type of nuclear reactor in the world. Colin Tucker has spent the last thirty years keeping reactors safe. Join him on a tour that is the next best thing to driving a nuclear reactor yourself! Read more

A chilling account of more than half a century of nuclear catastrophes, by the author of the “definitive” (Economist) Cold War history, Nuclear Folly.Almost 145,000 Americans fled their homes in and around Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in late March 1979, hoping to save themselves from an invisible enemy: radiation. The reactor at the nearby Three Mile Island nuclear power plant had gone into partial meltdown, and scientists feared an explosion that could spread radiation throughout the eastern United States. Thankfully, the explosion never took place―but the accident left deep scars in the American psyche, all but ending the nation’s love affair with nuclear power.In Atoms and Ashes, Serhii Plokhy recounts the dramatic history of Three Mile Island and five more accidents that that have dogged the nuclear industry in its military and civil incarnations: the disastrous fallout caused by the testing of the hydrogen bomb in the Bikini Atoll in 1954; the Kyshtym nuclear disaster in the USSR, which polluted a good part of the Urals; the Windscale fire, the worst nuclear accident in the UK’s history; back to the USSR with Chernobyl, the result of a flawed reactor design leading to the exodus of 350,000 people; and, most recently, Fukushima in Japan, triggered by an earthquake and a tsunami, a disaster on a par with Chernobyl and whose clean-up will not take place in our lifetime.Through the stories of these six terrifying incidents, Plokhy explores the risks of nuclear power, both for military and peaceful purposes, while offering a vivid account of how individuals and governments make decisions under extraordinary circumstances. Today, there are 440 nuclear reactors operating throughout the world, with nuclear power providing 10 percent of global electricity. Yet as the world seeks to reduce carbon emissions to combat climate change, the question arises: Just how safe is nuclear energy? Read more

With the constant threat of oil shortages facing us and wanting to educate herself about possible alternatives, Gwyneth Cravens skeptically sets out to find for herself the truth about nuclear energy. Her conclusion: It is a totally viable and practical solution to global warming. She enlists the help of Rip Anderson, a leading scientist in the field of risk assessment, and with his tutelage, she travels the country, visiting uranium mines, enrichment centers, reactors, and waste sites. Along the way we learn a lot of science, review the history of nuclear energy, relive the battles over it, see how successfully it has been applied all over the world, examine the misconceptions, and compare nuclear power to other energy sources, with their risks and benefits. Cravens is not out to deliver a polemic, however. Coming from a childhood spent building fallout shelters, Cravens viscerally understands the terror the word "nuclear" evokes. She gives us a vocabulary for practical risk assessment while investigating the psychology of nuclear fears, starting with the secrecy of the Manhattan Project and the legacy of government cover-ups both here and in the USSR. One by one, she dismantles the arguments against nuclear energy. Read more

"Essential―and fascinating―reading for anyone interested in the dilemmas posed by nuclear power."―Mike Wallace, 60 Minutes By 6:00 a.m. on the morning of March 28, 1979, the reactor core at Three Mile Island was thirty minutes away from a meltdown, an apocalypse that would render a huge swath of eastern Pennsylvania permanently uninhabitable. The control room crew, overwhelmed by flashing alarms and klaxon horns, is at a loss. The memo that would have warned them was never sent. Originally published in 1982, this factual, riveting thriller was the first account of the accident based on exclusive interviews with key operating personnel. Mike Gray, author of The China Syndrome, and Ira Rosen, former producer for CBS's 60 Minutes, have updated this jackhammer narrative of mechanical failure and human error with an analysis of the current threats to our nuclear power plants.Today the nuclear option is again on the table. Before we head down that road, it's important to understand what went wrong that fateful morning when the future of Harrisburg hung by a thread. Read more

This unique reference book for graduate students in the field of atomic physics provides a rich source for practical application of advanced quantum mechanics. Numerous suggested problems and ten programs bring the reader to a deeper unterstanding of the theory and methods. Read more

The little-known true story of a mysterious nuclear reactor disaster — years before Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, or Fukushima Before the Three Mile Island incident or the Chernobyl disaster, the world’s first nuclear reactor meltdown to claim lives happened on U.S. soil. Chronicled here for the first time is the strange tale of SL-1, an experimental military reactor located in Idaho’s Lost River Desert that exploded on the night of January 3, 1961, killing the three crewmembers on duty. Through exclusive interviews with the victims’ families and friends, firsthand accounts from rescue workers and nuclear industry insiders, and extensive research into official documents, journalist William McKeown probes the many questions surrounding this devastating blast that have gone unanswered for decades. From reports of faulty design and mismanagement to incompetent personnel and even rumors of sabotage after a failed love affair, these plausible explanations raise startling new questions about whether the truth was deliberately suppressed to protect the nuclear energy industry. Read more

This graduate-level text is intended for any student of physics who requires a thorough grounding in the quantum theory of nonrelativistic scattering. It is designed for readers who are already familiar with the general principles of quantum mechanics and who have some small acquaintance with scattering theory. Study of this text will allow students of atomic or nuclear physics to begin reading the literature and tackling real problems, with a complete grasp of the underlying principles. For students of high-energy physics, it provides the necessary background for later study of relativistic problems.Topics are presented in terms of the simplest relevant example, so that scattering theory can be learned by becoming familiar with all of the basic concepts — the S operator, cross sections, the T matrix, and so forth — in their simplest context. The time-dependent approach to the subject is emphasized, starting with the use of time-dependent formalism to define all of the basic concepts and the subsequent introduction of the time-independent theory as a tool for computation and for establishing certain general properties. Problems at the end of each chapter improve and supplement readers' grasp of the material. Read more

This book is written for the average person with the average items in a house or apartment. This is called EXPEDIENT CIVIL DEFENSE. You use what you have to protect and provide for yourself and family. Everything around you is a resource, you just have to understand how a bucket, a towel, rocks and clay can filter nuclear fallout out of water (it does!) and what everything else in your house or residence can do. That's why this book is good for any disaster, in any big disaster what is lost is the infrastructure that provides for us. Electricity, water, communications, sewage, transportation. This book show YOU HOW to cope and survive with what you have. This book can save your life. Read more

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“Persuasive and based on deep research. Atomic Awakening taught me a great deal."―Nature The American public's introduction to nuclear technology was manifested in destruction and death. With Hiroshima and the Cold War still ringing in our ears, our perception of all things nuclear is seen through the lens of weapons development. Nuclear power is full of mind-bending theories, deep secrets, and the misdirection of public consciousness, some deliberate, some accidental. The result of this fixation on bombs and fallout is that the development of a non-polluting, renewable energy source stands frozen in time. Outlining nuclear energy's discovery and applications throughout history, Mahaffey's brilliant and accessible book is essential to understanding the astounding phenomenon of nuclear power in an age where renewable energy and climate change have become the defining concerns of the twenty-first century. Read more

The promise of "green jobs" and a "clean energy future" has roused the masses. But as Robert Bryce makes clear in this provocative book, that vision needs a major re-vision. We cannot -- and will not -- quit using carbon-based fuels at any time in the near future for a simple reason: they provide the horsepower that we crave. The hard reality is that oil, coal, and natural gas are here to stay. Fueling our society requires more than sentiment and rhetoric; we need to make good decisions and smart investments based on facts. In Power Hungry, Bryce provides a supertanker-load of footnoted facts while shepherding readers through basic physics and math. And with the help of a panoply of vivid graphics and tables, he crushes a phalanx of energy myths, showing why renewables are not green, carbon capture and sequestration won't work, and even -- surprise! -- that the U.S. is leading the world in energy efficiency. He also charts the amazing growth of the fuels of the future: natural gas and nuclear.Power Hungry delivers a clear-eyed view of what America has "in the tank," and what's needed to transform the gargantuan global energy sector. Read more

This revised second edition of a popular handbook for engineers fills a gap in the fields of high-energy radiation environments, electronic device physics and materials. It is a straightforward account of the problems which arise when high-energy radiation bombards matter and of engineering methods for solving those problems. X-ray, electron and the'hadron's' in CERN's new collider environments and several more are described. The impact of these environments on microelectronics in computing, data processing and communication is the core of this book. A large amount of technical data, needed to make predictions on the spot, is presented, with literature references needed for further research and also a compendium of websites which have been tested and used by the authors. Read more

Unlock the world of nuclear engineering with this comprehensive guide that fuses theoretical knowledge with practical Python implementations. Delve into the essential equations and models that underpin the nuclear industry, and discover how to apply them effectively with step-by-step coding examples. Whether you're a student, a professional engineer, or an enthusiast, this book offers a treasure trove of insights to advance your understanding and capabilities in the nuclear field.Key Features:Comprehensive Coverage: Spans the entire spectrum of nuclear engineering topics, from foundational theories to advanced reactor designs.Hands-On Learning: Each chapter integrates Python code to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and real-world applications.Expert Insights: Authored by seasoned professionals and academics, ensuring you receive practical and up-to-date knowledge.Practical Application: Code examples demonstrate how to implement complex nuclear models and calculations.Resource for Professionals and Students: Ideal for both new learners and industry veterans seeking to enhance their technical skills.What You Will Learn:Deepen your understanding of Fick's Law and its applications in nuclear materials.Master Fourier's principles for effective heat transfer in nuclear systems.Analyze neutron behavior and distribution with the Neutron Transport Equation.Grasp the intricacies of reactor power changes via the Point Kinetics Model.Harness the power of the Neutron Diffusion Equation for reactor core analysis.Explore reactivity variances through detailed Coefficient Equations.Utilize the Bateman Equations for isotope decay chain calculations.Investigate reactor dynamics with the Inhour Equation.Understand Doppler Broadening effects in neutron cross-sections.Calculate the delayed neutron fraction crucial for reactor control.Solve Eigenvalue problems for assessing reactor criticality.Break down the Six-Factor Formula to analyze reactor multiplication.Conduct thorough Burnup Calculations for fuel management.Implement Monte Carlo Simulation for neutron transport analysis.Navigate Turbulent Flow Equations for fluid dynamics in reactors.Evaluate Boron Dilution Models in PWR systems.Apply the Navier-Stokes Equations in nuclear coolant dynamics.Calculate heat generation within reactor fuel efficiently.Explore neutron scattering angles for comprehensive analyses.Measure Diffusion Length and Mean Free Path for neutron behavior insights.Discern the Two-Group Model for flux and reaction rate calculations.Deploy economic modeling for Fuel Cycle Economics.Perform Lattice Physics Calculations for fuel assembly analysis.Assess Pressurized Thermal Shock impacts on reactor vessels.Forecast Decay Heat Generation post-shutdown.Model Gamma Ray Attenuation for material shielding.Design effective Radiation Shielding with accurate calculations.Determine neutron Subcritical Multiplication in reactors.Interpret Cross-Section Data for precise nuclear analyses.Quantify Material Irradiation Damage in high-flux environments.Dive into Gas-Cooled Reactor Dynamics for unique thermal-neutron interplay. Read more

High Temperature Gas Dynamics is a primer for scientists, engineers, and students who would like to have a basic understanding of the physics and the behavior of high-temperature gases. It is a valuable tool for astrophysicists as well. The first chapters treat the basic principles of quantum and statistical mechanics and how to derive thermophysical properties from them. Special topics are included that are rarely found in other textbooks, such as the thermophysical and transport properties of multi-temperature gases and a novel method to compute radiative transfer. Furthermore, collision processes between different particles are discussed. Separate chapters deal with the production of high-temperature gases and with electrical emission in plasmas, as well as related diagnostic techniques. This new edition adds over 100 pages and includes the following updates: several sections on radiative properties of high temperature gases and various radiation models, a section on shocks in magneto-gas-dynamics, a section on stability of 2D ionized gas flow, and additional practical examples, such as MGD generators, Hall and ion thrusters, and Faraday generators. Read more