6 ECTS Credits — Semester 2 — Minor
Nuclear and Particle Physics is a branch of physics that studies the properties and interactions of atomic nuclei and subatomic particles. It explores the structure of atomic nuclei, nuclear reactions, radioactive decay, and fundamental particles such as quarks and leptons.
Syllabus
This first part of this course aims to explain general topics in Elementary Particle Physics. First the theoretical background necessary to describe spin 1/2 particles is presented in detail. Next, the Standard Model and its Electroweak symmetry breaking is introduced. The masses of fermions and the oscillations of neutrinos are then presented. From an experimental point of view, this course describes the major discoveries made in high-energy colliders, which have historically shaped the current picture of the Standard Model.
The part on Nuclear Physics presents a general introduction to the properties of the atomic nucleus, followed by some of the basic models that can describe the individual and collective degrees of freedom of the nucleus, experimental techniques for studying the properties of the nucleus and practical applications of nuclear processes: studies of materials, diagnostics and therapies in nuclear medicine, radioactive dating.
Suggested bibliography
- R. F. Casten, Nuclear Structure from a Simple Perspective, OUP.
- K. S. Krane, Introductory Nuclear Physics, Wiley.
- A. Das, T. Frebel, Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics, World Scientific.
- T. Ohlsson, Relativistic Quantum Mechanics: From Advanced Quantum Mechanics to Introductory Quantum Field Theory, CUP.
- T.-P. Cheng, L.-F. Li, Gauge Theory of Elementary Particle Physics, OUP.