Module Information | Study information

MODULE TITLE	Nuclear and High Energy Physics	CREDIT VALUE	15
MODULE CODE	PHY3052	MODULE CONVENER	Prof Euan Hendry (Coordinator)

DURATION: TERM	1	2	3
DURATION: WEEKS		11

Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated)	118

DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

This module is an introduction to nuclear and particle physics delivered as a series of lectures and integrated self-study packs presenting topics as a series of keynote areas forming the foundations of the subject. This is a core module for all Physics programmes and is supported by Stage 3 tutorials and problems classes.

Pre-requisite modules: PHY2022 or equivalent module.

AIMS - intentions of the module

Investigations of the atomic nucleus and, of the fundamental forces that determine nuclear structure, offer fascinating insights into the nature of the physical world. The tools for probing these systems are high-energy particle accelerators and, more recently, colliding-beam systems. This module, aims to give students a broad overview of the subject matter, and encouragement to seek further information.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

A student who has passed this module should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1. describe the key properties of the atomic nucleus and explain these properties with the aid of an underlying theoretical framework;

2. identify sequences of particles as energy excitations of a ground state;

3. identify the quantum numbers that distinguish these sequences and use their conservation to analyse production processes;

4. state the relevant conservation laws and use them in analysing meson decays;

5. describe the basic weak interaction processes and the significant experiments that elucidate the nature of these;

6. describe the quark model and be able to construct the quark composition of particles;

7. explain the significance of symmetry to the multiplet structure of elementary particles;

8. solve problems on topics included in the syllabus;

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

9. identify significant applications which make use of nuclear physics, and explain the role of nuclear physics in these applications;

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:

10. give qualitative descriptions of complicated theories;

11. reason logically within a set of given constraints;

12. identify significant strands in a mass of confusing data.

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

I. Nuclear structure

Nuclear forces; liquid-drop model; Segrè curve and interpretation. Shell model; evidence for 'magic' numbers;

II. Nuclear spin (SS1)

Conservation of spin and parity in nuclear decays. Nuclear spin resonance and magnetic resonance imaging.

III. Instability and modes of decay

α-decay, simple version of tunnelling theory; β-decay, neutrino theory, summary of Fermi theory; Kurie plot. γ-decay; nuclear decay schemes.

IV. Beta decay theory (SS2)

Fermi theory of beta decay. Selection rules. Breaking of parity conservation in beta decay.

V. Nuclear reactions

Energetics; Q-values; reaction thresholds. Compound nucleus model, partial widths. Resonance reactions; Breit-Wigner formula. Fission and Fusion.

VI. The neutrino (SS3)

Neutrino mixing angles and oscillation lengths. Neutrino masses. Dirac vs Majorana neutrinos

VII. Introduction to particle physics

Leptons, nucleons, hadrons, quarks and baryons. Symmetries and groups.

VIII. QED

Relativistic quantum theory of electromagnetic interactions; antiparticles, electrodynamics of spinless particles, Dirac equation, electrodynamics of spin-1/2 particles.

IX. The Casimir force and QED (SS4)

Origin of the Casimir force. Zero point energy. High order corrections to interaction strengths in QED. Calculating interactions strengths in QED. Extensions to strong and weak forces.

X. Partons

Structure of hadrons, gluons.

XI. QCD

Relativistic quantum theory of the strong interactions of quarks and gluons.

XII. Symmetry in the Standard Model (SS5)

Local symmetry in the Standard Model. Discrete symmetry: parity, charge conjugation and time reversal, CPT theorem. CP violation in the weak and strong forces.

XIII. Weak-interactions

General structure, non-conservation of parity, massive neutrinos, neutrino experiments. Inverse β-decay. Two-neutrino experiment. CP violation in β-decay.

XIV. Gauge symmetries

Gauge bosons

LEARNING AND TEACHING

LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities	25	Guided Independent Study	125	Placement / Study Abroad	0

DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning & teaching activities	20	20×1-hour lectures
Scheduled learning & teaching activities	2	2×1-hour problems/revision classes
Scheduled learning & teaching activities	3	3×1-hour tutorials
Guided independent study	30	5×6-hour self-study packages
Guided independent study	16	4×4-hour problem sets
Guided independent study	79	Reading, private study and revision

ASSESSMENT

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade

Form of Assessment	Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length)	ILOs Assessed	Feedback Method
Guided self-study	5×6-hour packages (fortnightly)	1-12	Discussion in tutorials
4 × Problems sets	4 hours per set (fortnightly)	1-12	Solutions discussed in problems classes.

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)

Coursework	0	Written Exams	100	Practical Exams	0

DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Form of Assessment	% of Credit	Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length)	ILOs Assessed	Feedback Method
Final Examination	100	2 hours 30 minutes	1-12	Written, collective feedback via ELE and solutions.

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)

Original Form of Assessment	Form of Re-assessment	ILOs Re-assessed	Time Scale for Re-assessment
Final Examination	Written examination (100%)	1-12	Referral/deferral period

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

An original assessment that is based on both examination and coursework, tests, etc., is considered as a single element for the purpose of referral; i.e., the referred mark is based on the referred examination only, discounting all previous marks. In the event that the mark for a referred assessment is lower than that of the original assessment, the original higher mark will be retained.

Physics Modules with PHY Codes

Referred examinations will only be available in PHY3064, PHYM004 and those other modules for which the original assessment includes an examination component - this information is given in individual module descriptors.

RESOURCES

INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

ELE

Reading list for this module:

Type	Author	Title	Publisher	Year	ISBN
Set	Williams, W.S.C.	Nuclear and Particle Physics	Clarendon Press	1991	0-198-52046-8
Extended	Cottingham, W.M. and D. A. Greenwood	An Introduction to the Standard Model of Particle Physics	Cambridge University Press	1998	0-521-58832-4
Extended	Halzen, F. and A. D. Martin	Quarks and Leptons: An Introductory Course in Modern Particle Physics	John Wiley	1984	0-471-88741-2
Extended	Krane, K.S.	Introductory Nuclear Physics	Wiley	1987	0-471-80553-X
Extended	Lilley, J.	Nuclear Physics: Principles and Applications	John Wiley	2001	0-471-97935-X

CREDIT VALUE	15	ECTS VALUE	7.5

PRE-REQUISITE MODULES	PHY2022
CO-REQUISITE MODULES

NQF LEVEL (FHEQ)	6	AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING	No
ORIGIN DATE	Thursday 15th December 2011	LAST REVISION DATE	Tuesday 14th May 2024

KEY WORDS SEARCH	Physics; Particle; Decays; Structures; Theory; Model; Quarks; Neutrino; Interaction; Energy; Conservative.

Nuclear and High Energy Physics - 2024 entry