Here's a general description of a Nuclear and Particle Physics course—what it covers, its objectives, and what students can expect to learn.

Nuclear and Particle Physics Course Overview

Course Description:

The Nuclear and Particle Physics course is designed to introduce students to the fundamental constituents of matter and the forces that govern their interactions. The course explores the structure of atomic nuclei, the principles of radioactive decay, nuclear reactions, and extends into the realm of particle physics, where students learn about quarks, leptons, gauge bosons, and the Standard Model.

This course bridges classical nuclear physics and modern high-energy particle physics, providing both theoretical foundations and experimental insights.

Course Objectives:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Understand the structure and properties of atomic nuclei.

2. Describe different types of radioactive decay and their underlying mechanisms.

3. Analyze nuclear reactions and energy generation (e.g., fission, fusion).

4. Explain the classification of fundamental particles and their interactions.

5. Understand the Standard Model of particle physics and its limitations.

6. Explore current topics such as neutrino physics, particle accelerators, and beyond-Standard Model theories.

Core Topics Covered:

1. Nuclear Physics:

• Nuclear properties: mass, binding energy, spin, parity

• Models of the nucleus: liquid drop model, shell model

• Radioactive decay: alpha, beta, gamma decay

• Nuclear reactions and cross-sections

• Fission and fusion: mechanisms and applications (e.g., nuclear reactors, astrophysics)

2. Particle Physics:

• Fundamental particles: leptons, quarks, bosons

• Symmetries and conservation laws

• Electroweak interaction and quantum chromodynamics (QCD)

• Feynman diagrams and particle interactions

• The Standard Model and its components

• Higgs mechanism and particle masses

3. Experimental Techniques:

• Particle detectors and accelerators (e.g., LHC, synchrotrons)

• Detection of radiation: cloud chambers, scintillators, calorimeters

• Data analysis in nuclear and particle experiments

Assessment Methods:

• Problem sets and assignments

• Laboratory sessions (if applicable)

• Midterm and final exams

• Research project or presentation on a contemporary topic

Prerequisites:

• Introductory modern physics

• Classical mechanics and electromagnetism

• Basic quantum mechanics and special relativity

Potential Applications and Careers:

• Research in nuclear or particle physics

• Medical physics and radiation therapy

• Nuclear energy industry

• Space science and astrophysics

• Data science (from skills in statistical analysis and large data handling.

  Course Outline

  Week 1: Introduction & Nuclear Physics Basics

  Topics:

  • Overview of nuclear and particle physics

  • Structure of the nucleus: protons, neutrons, isotopes

  • Binding energy and mass defect

  • Nuclear forces and stability

  • Radioactive decay: alpha, beta, gamma decay

  • Decay laws and half-life

  Key Equations/Concepts:

  • $E = mc^2$

    , Binding energy

  • Exponential decay law:

    $N(t) = N_0 e^{-\lambda t}$

  Activities:

  • Problem set on decay laws and binding energy

  • Visualizing decay chains

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  Week 2: Nuclear Reactions & Applications

  Topics:

  • Types of nuclear reactions: fission, fusion, scattering

  • Q-value of nuclear reactions

  • Cross sections and reaction rates

  • Nuclear reactors and energy generation

  • Applications: medical (PET, MRI), industrial, astrophysical

  Key Equations/Concepts:

  • Reaction kinematics and energy conservation

  • Fission chain reactions, Fusion in stars

  Activities:

  • Analyze a fission/fusion reaction

  • Case study: Chernobyl or ITER fusion project

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  Week 3: Particle Physics Fundamentals

  Topics:

  • Standard Model of particle physics

  • Fundamental forces and exchange particles

  • Classification of particles: quarks, leptons, bosons

  • Hadrons: baryons vs mesons

  • Conservation laws (charge, lepton number, baryon number, etc.)

  Key Equations/Concepts:

  • Feynman diagrams basics

  • Quark composition of hadrons

  Activities:

  • Construct hadron families from quark combinations

  • Intro to reading Feynman diagrams

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  Week 4: Particle Interactions & Experimental Techniques

  Topics:

  • Particle accelerators and detectors

  • High-energy collisions and discovery of particles

  • Symmetries and parity violation

  • Neutrino physics

  • Current research and open questions (e.g. dark matter, CP violation)

  Key Equations/Concepts:

  • Energy-momentum relations:

    $E^2 = p^2c^2 + m^2c^4$

  • Interaction cross sections and lifetimes

  Activities:

  • Virtual tour or case study of CERN / LHC

  • Discussion of major discoveries (e.g., Higgs boson)

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   Recommended Resources

  • Intro Text: “Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics” by Das & Ferbel or Wong

  • Particle physics: “Quarks and Leptons” by Halzen & Martin

  • Simulations: PhET or CERN education tools

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