A nuclear physicist: a profession for which the future is!

Among the basic fundamental sciences of naturedominant place undoubtedly belongs to physics. We are surrounded by physical bodies, physical phenomena occur around us, and we ourselves are part of this endless process. The versatility of this field of knowledge is difficult to overestimate, as well as it is difficult to specify the limits of its distribution. Virtually all living and nonliving matter can be explained by its laws, and this is surprising. But perhaps the greatest number of mysteries and discoveries is fraught with nuclear physics.

The history of the appearance and specificity of the profession

Who is such a nuclear physicist that representsis this profession? To answer such questions, one must return to the past, to the boundary of the 19th and 20th centuries, when the atom was discovered, and scientists determined the structure of the atomic nucleus. Nuclear or atomic physics itself is one of the fields of this science, the subject of study of which is the atom, its structure and properties, nuclear reaction, radioactive decays and much more. The first kind of nuclear physicist, although there was no such term at that time, was the French scientist A. Becquerel. It was he, continuing the experiments of the great Roentgen, discovered radioactivity as a physical phenomenon. Other famous physicists and mathematicians, the Curie couple, continued their research, receiving polonium and radium. An invaluable contribution to the study of this phenomenon was made by Rutherford, having determined the main ways of physical science for many years to come.

The beginning, as they say, was made.And the first half of the 20th century passed under the banner of studying the properties of the atom, atomic energy, its destructive and creative forces. The atomic nucleus, proton and neutron as its main components attracted close attention not only of physicists, but also chemists, biologists, mathematicians, physicians, technicians, which contributed to the emergence of new scientific branches and disciplines adjacent to the main one. And nuclear physics is gradually transformed into an independent direction, consisting of such sections as:

• neutron;
• nuclear reactions;
• elementary particles;
• nuclear spectroscopy, etc.

Ultimately, in order to study howradiation affects the environment and humans, how to control thermonuclear reactions, what to do with nuclear waste, how to properly and safely operate nuclear power plants and various fusion installations, and the nuclear physicist profession was “created”.

The task of specialists is to identify errors and eliminatetheir root causes. Profession requires from him a solid, solid knowledge and excellent theoretical and practical training. The areas of competence include, in addition to fundamental concepts, knowledge of the design of reactors, the technology of their functioning, the ability to diagnose, work with special devices, and much more. It is a nuclear physicist who makes a conclusion about how efficient and ecologically safe a nuclear reactor is. He decides to start the rector or stop, leave to work at the same pace or reboot.

Scope of application

The profession of nuclear physics is in demand, first of all, in such high-tech industries as the work of nuclear power plants, in research and experimental laboratories, universities, etc.