PHY3207 Nuclear and High-Energy Particle Physics

2007-2008

Code: PHY3207
Title: Nuclear and High-Energy Particle Physics
Instructors: Staff of Foreign Host Institution
CATS credits: 15
ECTS credits: 7.5
Availability: Physics programmes with study abroad only
Level: 3
Pre-requisites: N/A
Co-requisites: N/A
Background Assumed: -
Duration: As agreed
Directed Study Time: 45 lectures (approx)
Private Study Time: 105 hours (approx)
Assessment Tasks Time: -
Observation report: not applicable

Aims

Nuclear physics is an important area of application of the ideas of quantum physics, with applications that have significant impact globally. High-energy particle physics discovers and tests the laws of physics at the extreme limits accessible to human experiments. This module will provide a sound understanding of the physical principles underlying these areas.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to:

Module Specific Skills

• explain the basic concepts of nuclear physics;
• be able to apply them to the spectra and stability of nuclear systems;
• describe the principles of fission and fusion;
• identify sequences of particles as energy excitations of a ground state;
• identify the quantum numbers that distinguish these sequences and use their conservation to analyse production processes;
• state the relevant conservation laws and use them in analysing meson decays;
• describe the basic weak interaction processes and the significant experiments that elucidate the nature of these;
• describe the quark model and be able to construct the quark composition of particles;
• explain the significance of symmetry to the multiplet-structure of elementary particles;
• solve problems on topics included in the syllabus.

Discipline Specific Skills

• select appropriate methods to detect radiation;
• study successfully within the system of an overseas university.

Personal and Key Skills

• manage their own learning and make appropriate use of support material.

Learning and Teaching Methods

These follow local practice at the host institution, typically lectures and/or directed self-study. Courses may also include laboratory exercises and homework problems.

Assignments

Follow host institution's conventions.

Assessment

As specified by host institution, typically homework assignments and a final examination.

Syllabus Plan and Content

1. Nuclear Physics
   1. Nuclear models and nuclear properties; detection methods.
   2. Radioactive decay (alpha, beta, gamma).
   3. Nuclear reactions, fission and fusion.
   4. Leptons, nucleons, hadrons, quarks and baryons; symmetries and groups.
2. High-Energy Physics
   1. QED
      Relativistic quantum theory of electromagnetic interactions; antiparticles, electrodynamics of spinless particles, Dirac equation, electrodynamics of spin-1/2 particles.
   2. Partons
      Structure of hadrons, gluons.
   3. QCD
      Relativistic quantum theory of the strong interactions of quarks and gluons.
   4. Weak-interactions
      General structure, non-conservation of parity, massive neutrinos, neutrino experiments. Inverse [beta] decay. Two-neutrino experiment. CP violation in [beta] decay.
   5. Gauge symmetries
      Gauge bosons.

Recommended Modules and Texts in Host Institution
 

Host Institution	Module	Text
Auckland	Physics 356 (S2)	W.S.C. Williams, Nuclear and High-Energy Particle Physics
Central Michigan		Not available, take PHY3135 at Stage 4.
Iowa State	537 (Spring)	D. Griffiths, Introduction to Elementary Particles
Kansas	641 (Spring)	K Krane, Introductory Nuclear Physics
Massey		Not available, take PHY3135 at Stage 4.
New Mexico	540 (According to demand)	To be advised.
Sydney	3979 (2)	Eisberg and Resnick, Quantum Physics of Atoms, Molecules, Solids Nuclei and Particles
Wollongong	375 (Spring)	K.S. Krane, Introductory Nuclear Physics

Core Text

Not applicable

Supplementary Text(s)

Not applicable

Formative Mechanisms

Follow host institution's conventions.

Evaluation Mechanisms

In addition to using the host institution's systems, students can raise any matters of concern with the Stage 3 Study Abroad Co-ordinator.