The Sievert (Sv) is the unit (SI-unit) of dose equivalent and effective dose.

In general, fractions of the unit of dose are used in radiation protection practice: 1 sievert = 1 000 millisieverts (mSv) = 1 000 000 microsieverts (µSv) = 1 000 000 000 nanosieverts (nSv).

1 nanosievert is one billiionth sievert = 0.000000001 sievert.

Dose is often related to a period of time, i.e. per year (mSv/a) or per hour (mSv/h).

The calculation of the electric and magnetic field intensities and the power flux density is considerably more complicated in the near field than in the far field. In this area the energy flux pulses away from the source and back to the source.

Spatial area of the electromagnetic field between the radiation source and its far field (electromagnetic field in the immediate vicinity of the radiation source).

Morphologic changes of cells or tissues following local cell or tissue death, occurring in the living organism.

For the transmission of electric energy different frequencies are used. In Germany these are 50 Hz for household electricity and 16 2/3 Hz for railway electricity.

Science dealing with the function of the central and peripheral nervous system.

Electrically neutral elementary particle. Neutrons are modules of the atomic nucleus and are released with nuclear fission.

The neutron activation analysis (NAA) is a highly sensitive method to identify and quantify the (trace) elements in various materials.

For this purpose a sample is irradiated with thermal neutrons. The irradiated nuclei can catch a neutron, thus they become activated, i.e. transforming it into a radioactive nuclide. When this nuclide decays, gamma radiation occurs, which has a specific energy for each radionuclide.

This gamma radiation can then be allocated to a certain (trace) element, similar to a finger print of a specific person.

Neutrons are electrically neutral elementary particles. They are particularly released with nuclear fission, a special form of nuclear transformation. Nuclear fission is only characteristic of heavy atomic nuclei such as the element uranium. As gamma radiation, neutron radiation has a high penetration capacity and requires also an increased use of shielding materials.

Electromagnetic fields which cannot trigger off ionisation processes at atoms or molecules are referred to as non-ionising. Non-ionising radiation is divided into

• Static electric and magnetic fields (frequency range 0 Hz) e. g. earth's magnetic field,
• Low-frequency electric and magnetic fields,
• High-frequency electromagnetic fields (frequency range 100 kHz - 300 GHz), e. g. radio and microwaves,
• Optical radiation (wave length range 1 mm - 100 nm), e. g. infrared radiation, visible light, UV radiation.

Operational processes the facility is designed and appropriate for in operational condition of the systems (undisturbed condition); also operational processes running with malfunctions of plan/facility components or systems (disturbed condition), as long as safety-related reasons are not opposed to the operation continuing (abnormal operation); maintenance processes (inspection, machine care, repair).

denotes in medicine a detrimental health effect (like e.g. an injury or radiation) or a substance (like e.g. infectuous or poisonous agents).

Fission of heavy atomic nuclei by bombardment with neutrons, thus releasing large amounts of energy. With nuclear fission two nuclei of the same size are generated, the radioactive fission products. Besides new neutrons are released which can trigger further nuclear fissions. Nuclear fission can also occur spontaneously, i. E. without excitation from outside.

Facilities in operation and decommissioned for uranium enrichment, fuel element production, reprocessing and conditioning of spent fuel elements. This includes also facilities for the storage of containers with spent fuel elements (temporary storage facilities, interim storage facilities) and of containers with solidified high-radioactive fission product solutions (interim storage facilities) with the objective of later disposal.

Among the facilities for nuclear fuel fission are also nuclear power plants and research reactors. Subject to the obligation to report according to the Nuclear Safety Officers and Reporting according to the Atomic Energy Act (AtSMV) are facilities whose maximum output exceeds 50 kW of thermal permanent output (cf. "reportable events").

Fissile materials in the form of uranium as metal, alloy or chemical compound (including natural uranium), plutonium as metal, alloy or chemical compound.

Application of radioactive substances in man for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Also: nuclear power plant (NPP). A thermal power plant, primarily intended for supplying power, in which the nuclear binding energy released during nuclear fission inside a reactor is converted into heat, which is in turn converted into electrical energy via a steam cycle involving turbines and generators.

Operators of nuclear installations are required to notify the supervisory authorities of accidents, incidents and other events according to standardised nationwide reporting criteria. The nuclear reporting procedure helps to monitor and optimise the safety status of nuclear facilities. The reports are subdivided into various reporting categories according to the periods within which an incident must be reported.

Transport of nuclear fuels or other radioactive substances on public traffic routes and those that can be accessed by the public.

Type of atom characterised by proton number (atomic number) and nuclear number.