Nuclear physics studies atomic nuclei and their manipulation. It has many applications, including medical imaging, cancer treatment, nuclear engineering, and radiocarbon dating. A career in nuclear physics requires a bachelor’s degree and graduate-level work.
Nuclear physics is a branch of the field of physics concerned with the structure of atomic nuclei and with understanding potential ways to manipulate atomic nuclei. This branch of physics dates back to the early 20th century when scientists began to realize that the atom had structure and that understanding this structure could be important. The most infamous application of nuclear physics was probably the development of the atomic bomb in the 1920s, but the field has many other applications, including highly beneficial ones.
Some people group particle physics with nuclear physics, although technically particle physics should be viewed as a field of its own. Particle physics is an offshoot of this field, but particle physicists take their research in very different directions and work with different kinds of natural phenomena.
One of the most diverse applications of nuclear physics is in medicine. The work of nuclear physicists underlies a number of medical imaging techniques used to provide non-invasive looks into the body. Radioactive isotopes used in the treatment of certain medical conditions such as cancer are also the product of nuclear physics research, with physicists learning about such isotopes and how they can be applied safely and effectively to address medical problems.
Some aspects of engineering require knowledge of nuclear physics, especially nuclear engineering, a field that involves developing nuclear power plants that can do everything from generating electricity to powering submarines. Radiocarbon dating, a technique used in geology and archaeology, is also a product of nuclear physics. People in this profession may also work with astronomers, using their knowledge to help date the universe, explain physical phenomena, and design experiments. As can be seen from these examples, nuclear weapons represent only a small aspect of this field in physics.
People interested in a career in nuclear physics should plan to spend a lot of time in school. A physicist in this field generally obtains a bachelor’s degree in physics, following this degree with graduate-level work. Graduate work offers physicists the opportunity to develop an area of specialization and to conduct research that can advance the field. Once qualified, a nuclear physicist may work in an academic setting, for a government agency, or for a private company, such as a company that offers radiocarbon dating services or operates nuclear power plants.
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