Nuclear Physics has evolved over the last 100 years to develop
many branches. A perusal of the abstracts submitted to the
Division of Nuclear Physics meetings shows topics ranging from
"low energy" processes involved in stellar nucleosynthesis to
"high energy" processes involving heavy ion collisions producing
quark-gluon plasmas or LHC results. Most of the subjects dealt
with in the next fifteen weeks will center on basic nuclear
properties although higher energy issues and particle physics
issues will also be touched upon.
Basic Facts you should know by the end of the semester:
Typical nuclear and nucleon
dimensions
Typical nuclear energies and
densities
How to calculate nuclear
reaction energies
Application of relativistic
kinematics to nuclear reactions
Symmetries of nuclei and nucleons
Indispensability of quantum mechanics to understanding nuclei
Characteristics of nuclear models, shell model, vibrational
model, rotational model
fission process and basic nuclear reactor properties
fusion process and stellar nucleosynthesis in element
formation
Lect
Number
Date
Subject
1
chap.1,phase
diagrams, particles,
app. A, cross sections(D.J.Margaziotis)
2
chap.
2,
leptons
and
electroweak interactions, symmetries, photon mass
3
chap.
3,
nucleons
and
the strong interaction, quark models, proton mass
4
chap.
4,
nuclear sizes
and masses, app. B Nuclear Masses 1
5
chap. 5, ground state
properties and the shell model app. C, topic of term paper due Kinematics 1
Shell Model homework
6
collective
models
of
nuclear
structure, rotational, vibrational, vibrational level scheme, Nuclear Models Exercise,
7
chap.
6,
alpha
decay
and fission, Alpha decay systematics, Midterm Exam , Take home exam due Mar. 21.
8
chap.
7,
excited
states,
app. D
9
chap.
8,
low
energy
nuclear reactions Kinematics and nuclear masses
10
high
energy
electromagnetic
interactions,
Map of W. Africa
11
relativistic heavy ion collisions
12
chap.
9,
nuclear
fission
power
13
chap. 10 nuclear fusion, 4He burning temperature
14
chap. 11, nucleosynthesis Hoyle
state(exp) Hoyle
state(theory) Nucleosynthesis
BB & Stellar
15
chap 12., beta decay
16
chap 12. gamma decay
17
chap. 13, neutrinos
18
chap. 14, passage of
penetrating particles through matter
19
chap. 15, take home final handed out
20
review,
term
paper due
Additional References: These are either in the library or can be purchased online. Some of these books have more than one copy available.
"Introductory
Nuclear Physics", Carlos A. Bertulani and Helio Schecter
"Introductory
Nuclear Physics", Samuel S. M. Wong
"The Physics of Nuclei and Particles", Richard A. Dunlap
"Introductory
Nuclear Physics", P.E. Hodgson, E. Gadioli, E.
Gadioli-Erba
"Introduction
to
nuclear
and
particle
physics", Asok Das and Thomas Ferbel
"Introductory
nuclear physics " Kenneth Krane
A term paper is due by May 9 If you hand it in by May
2 I can return it to you with my comments without a grade. It
will be graded after the second submission. The term paper
should be a minimum of 10 pages typed, including figures. There
must be a list of references which you cite in the paper. The
paper can be of a theoretical or experimental nature. Explain a
particular experimental technique or explain a theoretical
issue. If you write about nuclear power please include only the
facts, no polemics. You pick the topic. Possible topics, but not
exhaustive, are below: If you chose something outside this list
please discuss it with me before you start. I want to know what
topic you have chosen by February 14.
the shell model
the nucleon-nucleon interaction
nuclear shapes or spins, what are they and how do we determine
them
collective rotational and vibrational models
interaction boson models (IBA)
nuclear reactions
neutrino mass searches
giant resonances
the role of symmetries in nuclear/particle physics
quark models of the hadrons
the electroweak interaction
quantum chromodynamics and the strong interaction
grand unified models
quark gluon plasma
heavy ion reactions
nuclear astrophysics
neutron stars
strange quark stars
nuclear decays, alpha, beta and gamma decay
double beta decay searches
nuclear power, fission or fusion
biomedical applications of nuclear physics
accelerator design
the physics and design of experimental equipment
Grading: The grade will be based on the midterm exam(~20%),
problems I will hand out in class(~20%), the final exam(~30%),
and the term paper(~30%). The answers to the text book problems
are in the back of the text book, so these can't be used for
grading. Nevertheless, I strongly encourage you to solve
these problems on your own before looking up the answers.
ADA statement: Reasonable accomodation will be provided to any
student who is registered with the Office of Students with
Disabilities and requests needed accomodation.
Academic Honesty statement:
http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/senate/handbook/ch5a.htm