The scope of the course is to give the students the fundamentals of the physics of nuclear systems for the production of energy. The simplest models for the study of fission reactors and some basics on the process of nuclear fusion are illustrated. The course aim is also to give the students the basic knowledge and the functional characteristics of the nuclear power plants: the plant main components and the nuclear fuel in the different reactor types, including the fusion reactors, are illustrated.
The course includes lessons, in which the theory is presented, and exercise sessions, in which numerical applications are proposed and discussed.

At the end of the course students should reach the following objectives:
- to know the physical phenomena of nuclear fission reactors;
- to know the mathematical models for the study of the physics of such systems and to carry out simple numerical applications;
- to know how the plant main systems and components do work and to be able to correctly predict the plant performance and energy contribution of the nuclear fuel

Basic courses in mathematics and physics and thermodynamics.