How is nuclear engineering different from all other fields of engineering?
Nuclear Science and Engineering (NSE) is based on a fundamental discipline which is easily distinguishable from other forms of engineering. Namely we deal with nuclear reactions, i.e. originating with the nucleus of protons and neutrons, not from molecules/atoms. In NSE we produce, manipulate and exploit the resulting radiation to provide useful applications for mankind. An analogy would be that a chemical engineer does the same thing by exploiting electron reactions in atoms/molecules. But because the energy density and radiation energy of nuclear reactions are million times larger than those of electrical/chemical reactions, it makes the discipline and applications very different. This enormous quantum difference between the disciplines simply arises from the enormous jump in size between a nucleus and the atom, which contains the electrons. Of course it is exactly this factor of millions which makes nuclear power so attractive. Nuclear energy requires millions of times less fuel per
