This course aims to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of nuclear and sub-nuclear physics. Starting with an overview of the development of nuclear and particle physics, the course builds on previous learning in quantum mechanics and electromagnetism to develop students' understanding of the properties of the strong and weak forces. Topics covered include the experimental apparatus needed to study femtoscale (and sub-femtoscale) physics, the interactions between fundamental particles, and microscopic descriptions of the atomic nucleus. The lab program aims to increase students' understanding of how to handle and interpret data as well as to introduce them to the basic techniques and processes of radiation detection.

Honours Pathway Option

This course is offered as an advanced option. Students taking this option will be required to complete alternative assignment and/or laboratory options. These will amount to 15% of the total assessment.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. analyse production and decay reactions for fundamental particles, applying conservation principles to determine the type of reaction taking place and the possible outcomes
2. describe the role of colour in the strong force, and appreciate why going from strong interactions between quarks to nuclear structure is a currently unsolved problem
3. describe the role of spin-orbit coupling in the shell structure of atomic nuclei, and predict the properties of nuclear ground and excited states based on the shell model
4. apply quark mixing models to analyse weak interaction physics such as beta and kaon decay
5. read, understand and explain scholarly journal articles in nuclear and particle physics
6.make relevant measurements of energy and decay spectra using basic experimental facilities and apply Poisson statistics to evaluate the uncertainties in the data.

Assessment will be based on:

• Five problem sheets to assess ability to identify and analyse problems, and to apply basic techniques to solve them (25%; LO 1-4)
• Journal article summary (5%; LO 5)
• Extended research assignment (20%; LO 1-5)
• Laboratory work (25%; LO 6)
• Final exam (25%; LO 1-4)

Approximately 36 one-hour lectures, up to twelve tutorials and twenty-four hours of laboratory work, plus individual study.

PHYS2013