NUCLEAR AND SUBNUCLEAR PHYSICS I

Course objectives

GENERAL OBJECTIVES: The course describes the basics of nuclear and subnuclear physics through the study of the main discoveries that have contributed to the modern description of the atomic nucleus, of elementary particles and their interactions. Relativistic kinematics is used to analyze the production reactions and decays of particles, applying the conservation laws of quantum numbers. The nature of alpha and beta decays is described through non-relativistic mechanics. Finally, the interactions of particles in matter and the operating principles of the detectors for the measurement of energy and momentum and the identification of charged particles are discussed. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: A - Knowledge and understanding OF 1) Knowing different types of fundamental interactions between elementary particles OF 2) Understanding the kinematics of production and decay processes OF 3) Knowledge of basic nuclear reactions and energy properties OF 4) Recognize and describe the primary interactions of particles in matter B - Application skills OF 5) Compute kinematic properties of decay products and collisions between elementary particles, using the selection rules OF 6) Calculate the energy lost by elementary particles passing through matter OF 7) Calculate the probability of decay and interaction in collisions C - Autonomy of judgment OF 8) Ability to apply the acquired knowledge to understand the main discoveries in nuclear and subnuclear physics in the twentieth century OF 9) Understand the experimental method and the measurements made in some of the most important and famous experiments of the twentieth century D - Communication skills OF 10) Ability to discuss, at an elementary level, modern physics as regards the nuclear structure and the fundamental interactions of particles. E - Ability to learn OF 11) Ability to consult scientific articles relative to the measurements covered in the course and understand their methodology and purpose OF 12) Ability to understand the physics processes of elementary particles treated in the Master's Degree in Physics, using the notions of kinematics and conservation laws of quantum numbers

Channel 1
SHAHRAM RAHATLOU Lecturers' profile
Channel 2
FABIO BELLINI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
-- Introduction: the origin of the nuclear and subnuclear physics, the historical experiments. Natural units. -- Relativistic kinematics: energy and momentum of relativistic particles, the Lorentz transformations, the invariant mass of a system o particles. -- Collisions and decays: total and differential cross-sections; decay widths and decay lifetimes, branching ratios; the Fermi golden rule. -- Interactions of matter and radiation: the ionization energy loss, the Bethe-Bloch formula and the Bragg peak; Multiple scattering of a charged particle; energy loss of electrons, the bremsstrahlung; the Cerenkov effect; interactions of photons with matter: the photoelectric effect, the Compton effect and the pair production; the electromgnatic showers; interactions of neutrons with matter.-- Tecniche di rivelazione delle particelle. -- Particle detectors -- Particle accelerators -- Nuclear Physics: general properties of the nuclei, the Segrè chart and the stability of nuclei; masses, binding energies and the semi-empirical nuclear mass formula; alpha, beta and gamma decays; nuclear fission and fusion. -- Subnuclear physics: the properties of the fundamental interactions of elementary particles, the Yukawa theory, the antiparticles; the discovery of the elementary particles and the particle classification, the hadrons, baryons and mesons, the leptons and their quantum numbers; symmetries and invariances in particle physics, parity, charge coniugation, time reversal, strangeness and isospin; the discovery of the parity violation in the weak interactions, the quark model.
Prerequisites
a) Knowledge of classical mechanics, electromagnetism, analytical and relativistic mechanics, and measurement theory acquired in the courses of the first years of a three-year degree in Physics are essential. b) It is important to have basic knowledge of quantum mechanics (wave functions, Schroedinger equation) and statistical mechanics (concept of phase space). c) It is useful to have programming knowledge offered in the computing laboratory course to visualize and plot some of the functions and solutions of kinematics problems.
Books
R. Paramatti, Dispense di cinematica relativistica D. Griffiths, Introduction to Elementary Particles , 2nd Ed. A. Das and T. Ferbel, Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics, 2nd ed. C. Bertulani, Nuclear Physics in a Nutshell F.Ceradini Appunti del corso di Istituzioni di Fisica Nucleare e Subnucleare AA 16-17 M. Kado Dispense di Fisica Nucleare e Subnucleare F.Terranova A Modern Primer in Particle and Nuclear Physics 1st ed. Per approfondimenti: C. Dionisi e E. Longo, Dispense di fisica nucleare e subnucleare D. H. Perkins, Introduction to High Energy Physics, 4th ed. Cahn and Goldhaber, The experimental foundation of Particle Physics, 2nd Ed. J. J. Sakurai, J. Napolitano, Meccanica quantistica moderna, 2nd Ed. K.S.Krane, Introductory Nuclear Physics C. Bertulani, Nuclear Physics in a Nutshell
Exam mode
There will be intermediate tests during the course. Each test consists of exercises about the topics discussed in the lectures. The dates of the tests will be agreed with the students at the beginning of the course. The final exam consists of an oral discussion of the topics covered in the course. Students who do not take the intermediate tests, or want to improve their score, can take a written test before the oral exam. The evaluation will take into account: - correctness of the exposed arguments; - clarity and rigor of presentation; - numerical correctness, order of magnitude, and unit of measurement; - analytical exposition of the theory.
Lesson mode
The course is based on traditional lectures in class. Some of the lectures are used to solve problems and exercises.
Channel 3
CESARE BINI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
-- Introduction: the origin of the nuclear and subnuclear physics, the historical experiments. Natural units. -- Relativistic kinematics: energy and momentum of relativistic particles, the Lorentz transformations, the invariant mass of a system o particles. -- Collisions and decays: total and differential cross-sections; decay widths and decay lifetimes, branching ratios; the Fermi golden rule. -- Interactions of matter and radiation: the ionization energy loss, the Bethe-Bloch formula and the Bragg peak; Multiple scattering of a charged particle; energy loss of electrons, the bremsstrahlung; the Cerenkov effect; interactions of photons with matter: the photoelectric effect, the Compton effect and the pair production; the electromgnatic showers; interactions of neutrons with matter.-- Tecniche di rivelazione delle particelle. -- Particle detectors -- Particle accelerators -- Nuclear Physics: general properties of the nuclei, the Segrè chart and the stability of nuclei; masses, binding energies and the semi-empirical nuclear mass formula; alpha, beta and gamma decays; nuclear fission and fusion. -- Subnuclear physics: the properties of the fundamental interactions of elementary particles, the Yukawa theory, the antiparticles; the discovery of the elementary particles and the particle classification, the hadrons, baryons and mesons, the leptons and their quantum numbers; symmetries and invariances in particle physics, parity, charge coniugation, time reversal, strangeness and isospin; the discovery of the parity violation in the weak interactions, the quark model.
Prerequisites
a) Knowledge of classical mechanics, electromagnetism, analytical and relativistic mechanics, and measurement theory acquired in the courses of the first years of a three-year degree in Physics are essential. b) It is important to have basic knowledge of quantum mechanics (wave functions, Schroedinger equation) and statistical mechanics (concept of phase space). c) It is useful to have programming knowledge offered in the computing laboratory course to visualize and plot some of the functions and solutions of kinematics problems.
Books
Lecture notes are distributed during the course. Additional reference texts are the following: R. Paramatti, Dispense di cinematica relativistica C. Dionisi e E. Longo, Dispense di fisica nucleare e subnucleare M.Kado, Nuclear and Subnuclear Physics A. Das and T. Ferbel, Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics, 2nd ed.
Teaching mode
The lectures will be in presence with the blackboard (electronic or traditional). About ⅓ of the lectures will be problem solving sessions on the topics covered in the course. There will be homework exercises assigned weekly and then discussed in the following problem solving session.
Frequency
Attendance is not mandatory but it is strongly adviced.
Exam mode
The exam is based on a written test and a colloquium. There will be intermediate tests during the course. Each test consists of exercises about the topics discussed in the lectures. The dates of the intermediate tests will be agreed with the students at the beginning of the course. The final exam consists of an oral discussion of the topics covered in the course. Students who do not take the intermediate tests, or want to improve their score, must take a written test before the oral exam. The evaluation will take into account: - correctness of the exposed arguments; - clarity and rigor of presentation; - numerical correctness, order of magnitude, and unit of measurement; - analytical exposition of the theory.
Bibliography
Further readings: D. Griffiths, Introduction to Elementary Particles , 2nd Ed. D. H. Perkins, Introduction to High Energy Physics, 4th ed. Cahn and Goldhaber, The experimental foundation of Particle Physics, 2nd Ed. J. J. Sakurai, J. Napolitano, Meccanica quantistica moderna, 2nd Ed. C. Bertulani, Nuclear Physics in a Nutshell K.Krane, Introductory Nuclear Physics
Lesson mode
The lectures will be in presence with the blackboard (electronic or traditional). About ⅓ of the lectures will be problem solving sessions on the topics covered in the course. There will be homework exercises assigned weekly and then discussed in the following problem solving session.
  • Lesson code1012075
  • Academic year2024/2025
  • CoursePhysics
  • CurriculumFisica
  • Year3rd year
  • Semester2nd semester
  • SSDFIS/04
  • CFU6
  • Subject areaMicrofisico e della struttura della materia