Introduction to Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics Theory

obligatory courses

Structure of Matter 0900-FS1-3BUM

Passed exams on Structure of matter and Introduction to quantum mechanics

(in Polish) w sali

Objectives:

Acquainting students with basic information on:

- physics of nuclear processes,

- radioactive decays,

- nuclear reactions,

- natural and artificial sources of ionizing radiation,

- interaction of ionizing radiation with matter,

- detection methods of radiation,

- elementary particles of matter.

Profile : academic

Form: stationary

Subject: obligatory

Branch of science and Discipline of science: Physical sciences, physics

Year/Semester: 2 year/3 semester, second degree (graduate) study (experimental physics)

Prerequisites: Passed exams on Structure of matter and Introduction to quantum mechanics.

Didactic units: lecture 30 hrs., laboratory 30 hrs.

Didactic methods: Lecture in the form of a multimedia presentations, supported by demonstration experiments related to the topics currently presented on lectures (lecture notes available on e-learning); laboratory: performing 4 experiments related to lecture subjects, data analysis and written report prepared at home.

ECTS credits: 7

Balance the workload of the average student: participation in lectures (30 hrs.), participation in laboratory experiments (30 hrs.), active participation in the consultations (3 hrs.), OSH training - 1 hr, homework (preparation for laboratory excercises and preparation of laboratory report (2+1)*30=90 hrs.), preparing for written exam and participation in the exam - 15 hrs. 169 hrs. in total.

Quantitative indicators: classes with academic teacher - 61 hrs., 3,6 ECTS, practical classes (with students activity) - 30 hrs. (ca. 1 ECTS).

Lecture topics:

1. Remainder of the basic concepts of nuclear physics.

2. The cross section (linear and mass absorption coefficient). Interaction of charged particles with matter. Interaction of gamma radiation with matter. Biological effects of ionizing radiation.

3. Principles of operation and use of selected detectors of radiation (characteristics of detectors, general principles of radiation detection, detector efficiency, detector resolution). Elementary dosimetry.

4. Sources of nuclear radiation (types of radiation and their main characteristics). Accelerators.

5. The properties of atomic nuclei and methods of their investigation (charge of atomic nuclei, the size and shape of nuclei, mass and binding energy of atomic nuclei, mass defects, the dependence of the binding energy on the mass number, magic numbers). Spin and magnetic moment of atomic nuclei, parity of atomic nuclei, statistics of atomic nuclei: Fermi-Dirac, Bose-Einstein.

6. Models of nuclear structure Fermi gas model, liquid model, shell model, collective models, optical model).

7. Radioactive transformations and the law of radioactive decay (spontaneous radioactive transformations: alpha, beta, gamma and their characteristics, decay families, the line of stability. Applications of radioactive decay.

8. Nuclear reactions (types of reaction, principles of conservation, direct reactions, complex reactions, resonant reactions). Fission, chain reactions, critical mass. Construction and operation of a nuclear reactor. Thermonuclear fusion reactions, Lawson criterion. The origin of the elements.

9. Review of elementary particles (the "old" and new quantum numbers, general types of elementary particles). Basic principles of the Standard Model. Leptons and quarks. Neutrons (general properties of neutron, interaction of neutrons with matter, neutron sources, neutron thermalisation, neutron detection, neutron spectrometry).

Laboratory topics

- Law of radioactive decay.

- Dependence of intensity of gamma radiation on the distance from radioactive source.

- Bouguer-Beer law of radiation absorption.

- Scattering of gamma radiation.

1. E.Żukowski, manuscript of lecture notes in PDF files

2. A.Bettini, „Introduction to Elementary Particle Physics”, Cambridge University Press 2008,

3. D.Halliday, R.Resnick, J.Walker, Fundamentals of Physics Extended, 10th Edition, Chapter 42-44

/in Polish/: E.Skrzypczak, Z.Szefliński „Wstęp do fizyki jądra atomowego i cząstek elementarnych”, PWN, Warszawa 2002.

Student:

1.Pposesses extended knowledge on nuclear physics and basic experimental methods used in this field of physics.

2. Broaden her/his knowledge of nature on subatomic level based on learnt language and concepts.

3. Understand and explain specific phenomena of microworld using adopted tools to their description.

4. Is able to analyse simple problems of microworld physics and find their solutions using quantitative formulas as well as formulate qulitative conclusions.

5. Is able to use literature and Internet resources related to microworld physics.

6. Performs simple experiments from the field of nuclear physics and analyse the data.

7. Performs teamwork laboratory experiments, taking the role of the leader or the coordinator of the experiment.

8. Organise teamwork and take responsibility for the task.

9. Explains principles of selected experimental systems used in nuclear physics.

Written exam.

No