Nuclear and Subnuclear Physics Elements

Module Module 2

The student will learn the basic notions relating to radioactive decay and nuclear structure. The problems are introduced by describing the phenomenology, the approach used in the measurements; a qualitative and, where possible, quantitative description of the nuclear phenomena described is also given. In learning the main theoretical models by which nuclear structure is studied, the student will also use many concepts from courses preceding or taking place in parallel with the course in question.

In reference to the Dublin Descriptors, this course contributes to acquiring the following transversal skills: 

Knowledge and understanding

At the end of the course students will have developed inductive and deductive reasoning skills. They will have acquired the main notions underlying the experimentation and phenomenology that led to the description of the nuclei and their interactions at a fundamental level. They will know the laws and properties of the structure of nuclei as well as the main features of beta anf gamma nuclear decay.

Ability to apply knowledge

With the knowledge acquired, students will be able to enrich and deepen their knowledge of the topics covered in more advanced courses of their study path.

The course includes 3 credits of frontal teaching for a total of 21 hours.

Where possible, a guided tour is planned at the National Laboratories of the South-INFN Catania, during which the activities carried out by researchers in the field of Nuclear Physics are illustrated, also in connection with research in collaboration with Italian and foreign universities and research institutions.

Mandatory know-how: general physics, differential calculus.

As foreseen by the rules of CdS L30, the acquisition of the credits from Analysis 1, Physics 1 and Physics 2 classes are mandatory for the examination of IFNS.

Nuclear Models

Liquid drop model. Fermi gas model. Introduction to the independent particle model. Shell model. Energy levels. Wood-Saxon potential. Spin-orbit interaction. Magic Numbers. Splitting of energy levels. Energy of the nucleons in the nucleus. Excited states in the shell model of the nucleus. Residual interaction. Ground state properties of nuclei: spin and parity.

Beta decay

Beta decay from an energetic point of view. Structure of energy spectra: end-point and neutrino. Golden Rule n.2. Elementary Fermi theory: Hif transition matrix. Allowed Fermi (F) and Gamow-Teller (G-T) transitions. Forbidden transitions. Beta spectrum: dependence on the superposition matrix and the statistical factor. Kurie-plot. Examples of beta-permitted, super-permitted transitions.

Gamma decay

Energetics in γ decay. Origin of the transition and classification based on multipolarity and type. Laws of conservation of angular momentum and parity in transitions. Electric W(EL) and magnetic W(ML) multipolar transition probabilities (Weisskopf theoretical estimates). Decay by internal conversion. Metastable states.

REFERENCE BOOKS ( in alphabetic order)

1. K.S. Krane, Introductory Nuclear Physics, (Wiley and Sons Ltd.) 

2. H.A.Enge: Introduction to Nuclear Physics (Addison Wesley Pub.Co.)

3. J.S.Lilley: Nuclear Physics- Principles and Applications (Wiley and Sons Ltd.)

4. B. Povh, K. Rith, C. Scholz, F. Zetsche: Particelle e nuclei. Un' introduzione ai concetti fisici (Bollati Boringhieri)

5. W .S.C. Williams: Nuclear and Particle Physics, (Claredon Press, Oxford)

The exam consists of an oral discussion that focuses on the topics covered in the course.

For the evaluation of the student, the level of knowledge acquired, the mastery achieved and the ability to correlate the different topics covered in the course will be taken into account.

N.B.: The exam relating to the teaching of Nuclear and Subnuclear Physics Institutions (Mod.1 + Mod.2; 6+3 CFU) is unique for the 2 Modules and takes place simultaneously in the presence of the 2 Teachers. The grade, relating to 9 credits, is also unique.

Normally 8 exam sessions are scheduled for A.A.

It is possible to consult the exam calendar on the L30-Physics degree course website.

The questions below do not constitute an exhaustive list but represent just some examples:

Main models for the atomic nucleus.

Shell model.

Energetics of beta and gamma decay.

Beta decay.

Beta spectrum and end-point.

Gamma decay.

Angular momentum and parity conservation laws in radioactive decays.