FYSS3300 Nuclear Physics (8 cr)

• Liquid drop model of the nucleus

• Nuclear shell model and single-particle states

• Deformed nuclei

• Vibrational nuclei

• Radioactivity: alpha decay, beta decay and electromagnetic transitions

• Nuclear reactions

• Interaction of radiation with matter

• Nuclear fission and operation of a nuclear power plant

• Principles of different particle accelerators

• Basics of nuclear astrophysics 

On completion of the course, students will be able to:

• use the semi-empirical mass formula and experimental atomic masses to calculate binding energies and separation energies

• relate the terms of the semi-empirical mass formula to properties of the nucleon-nucleon interaction and the binding of nucleons in nuclei

• identify a variety of experimental observables which indicate the need for a nuclear shell model

• use the shell model to calculate the spin and parity of the nuclear ground state as well as to understand simple single-particle excitations and structure

• use rotational and vibrational models of nuclei

• use the radioactive decay law and apply it to real-world scenarios of radioactivity

• use Q value systematics in beta decay in order to calculate log-ft values and identify the different transitions and how they can relate to the nuclear shell model

• make relations between models of the alpha decay process and experimental alpha decay data

• make calculations of electromagnetic transition rates using a simple model, compare the results to experimental data

• calculate reaction rates in experiments given target thicknesses, cross sections and primary beam intensities

• use the liquid drop model to describe the nuclear fission process

• list the important ingredients of a nuclear reactor and calculate different parameters of operational reactors

• describe how different particle accelerators work

• understand the principle of astrophysical nucleosynthesis 

• A solid understanding of modern physics and basic quantum mechanics

• Courses FYSA2001 Modern physics (part A), FYSA2002 Modern physics (part B), FYSA2031 Quantum mechanics (part A) and FYSA2032 Quantum mechanics (part B), are recommended.

• Mathematical prerequisites: first order differential equations used for problems related to radioactive decay