Nuclear for curious

The author aims at proposing a popularisation of nuclear science. In a first part which addresses general aspects and uses of radioactivity, he presents and describes the matter structure, proposes a historical overview, introduces the various forms of nuclear activity (α, β, and γ radioactivity) and natural radioactivity. He explains why radiation can be called ionizing radiation (action of ionizing radiations on matter, comparison between α, β, X, and γ radiations). He presents the various radiological units, addresses issues related to radiation protection (main damages on human body, impact of a radiation on the whole body), and describes various uses of radioactivity (nuclear medicine, dating, heritage conservation, and others). In the second part, the author addresses uses of nuclear energy. He describes artificial radioactivity (nuclear fission, criticality), the various types of nuclear reactors (natural uranium graphite gas, heavy water, pressurised water, boiling water, fast breeders), and the nuclear fuel cycle (mining extraction, refinery, isotopic enrichment, assembly fabrication, cooling in pool, reprocessing, nuclear wastes, MOX fuel). The third part addresses perspectives: EPR, future reactors, nuclear fusion