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SH2600 Nuclear Reactor Physics, Major Course 9.0 credits

A compulsory course for the Master Program in Nuclear Energy Engineering with theory and applications.

Information per course offering

Termin

Information for Autumn 2025 Start 25 Aug 2025 programme students

Course location

AlbaNova

Duration
25 Aug 2025 - 12 Jan 2026
Periods

Autumn 2025: P1 (4 hp), P2 (5 hp)

Pace of study

33%

Application code

51445

Form of study

Normal Daytime

Language of instruction

English

Course memo
Course memo is not published
Number of places

Places are not limited

Target group
TNEEM
Planned modular schedule
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Contact

Examiner
No information inserted
Course coordinator
No information inserted
Teachers
No information inserted

Course syllabus as PDF

Please note: all information from the Course syllabus is available on this page in an accessible format.

Course syllabus SH2600 (Autumn 2025–)
Headings with content from the Course syllabus SH2600 (Autumn 2025–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )

Content and learning outcomes

Course contents

The course provides an introduction to the following topics in reactor physics:

  • fundamentals of nuclear physics relevant to nuclear engineering,
  • interaction of radiation with matter,
  • neutron thermalisation,
  • nuclear fission and chain reaction,
  • nuclear fuel,
  • types of nuclear reactors,
  • neutron diffusion equation,
  • reactor theory,
  • reactor kinetics,
  • reactor dynamics.

The course includes in-house labs (based on a reactor simulator) and hands-on training on a reactor abroad (the VR-1 reactor in Prague).

Intended learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

  • describe the interaction of neutrons with matter,
  • derive and solve the equations of radioactive decay,
  • explain the mechanism of the nuclear fission chain reaction,
  • describe and evaluate neutron slowing-down processes,
  • derive and solve equations for neutron diffusion in fissile media, 
  • explain temperature feedbacks,
  • describe the kinetic and dynamic behaviour of a nuclear reactor,
  • explain the basic principles of reactor stability,
  • describe the main types of nuclear reactors and nuclear fuels.

Literature and preparations

Specific prerequisites

The course requires Bachelor level knowledge of mathematics and physics from an engineering Bachelor programme.  Fundamentals of basic nuclear physics and quantum mechanics are desirable but not formally requitred.

English B / English 6

Literature

You can find information about course literature either in the course memo for the course offering or in the course room in Canvas.

Examination and completion

Grading scale

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination

  • TENA - Examination, 5.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
  • LABA - Laboratory Work, 4.0 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Examiner

Ethical approach

  • All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
  • In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
  • In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information

Course room in Canvas

Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas. A link to the course room can be found under the tab Studies in the Personal menu at the start of the course.

Offered by

Main field of study

Physics, Engineering Physics

Education cycle

Second cycle