From the atomic nucleus to the nuclear reactor - the saga of the French neutron transport science

This document contains a brief presentation and the table of contents of a book in which the author proposes a history of the neutron transport science since the discovery of the neutron in 1932. The first part addresses the physical background of neutron transport: definition, efforts leading to the neutron discovery, neutron diffusion, slowing down and absorption, discovery of nuclear fission, concept of chain reaction, first atomic pile (CP-1, Chicago Pile), plutonium and nuclear fission products, first reactors, the CEA and the Zoe pile, paradigm of neutron transport, network calculation and core calculation, evolution of heavy nuclei and plutonium problematic, first generation of reactors, and Oklo reactors. The second part addresses the industrial era of neutron transport: experimental neutron transport science, second generation of nuclear reactors and second generation of computation codes, preparation of the third generation of nuclear reactors and third generation of computation codes, fourth generation of nuclear reactors and the next to come, studies of protection against radiation and criticality risk, neutrons as exploration tools, neutron transport in nuclear weapons, perspectives for neutron transport science