SUBATOMICS PHYSICS
Academic year and teacher
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2016/2017
- Teacher
- GIUSEPPE PAGLIARA
- Credits
- 9
- Didactic period
- Secondo Semestre
- SSD
- FIS/04
Training objectives
- Introduction to the basic concepts of nuclear physics and of the standard model of particle physics. The student will have a general overview on the structure of matter at subatomic scales and will learn the investigation tools of this field of physics (scattering processes and decays of unstable particles). The student will be also introduced to some applications of nuclear physics (medical physics and nuclear reactor physics). A particular attention will be dedicated to energy/length scales typical of subatomic physics and of the fundamental interactions.
Prerequisites
- The knowledge of classical physics as obtained in the first two years. The student needs to be familiar with the basic concepts of quantum mechanics. It is also required the knowledge of the mathematical tools treated in the courses of calculus, geometry and mathematical methods of physics.
Course programme
- The course is divided into three main blocks: relativistic mechanics, scattering processes and decays (22h), elements of nuclear physics (22h) and elements of subnuclear physics (22h). The remaining 6 h are used for a historical introduction of particle physics and a brief discussion on recent research activities in this field.
Didactic methods
- Theoretical lectures and exercise sessions.
Learning assessment procedures
- Written and oral exam. For the written exam there are four exercises and the to pass it one needs to reach at least 16 marks. The exercises concern relativistic mechanics, applications of cross sections and decay rates of unstable nuclei and particles. It is allowed to use books and notes during the exam. The oral exam is organised as follows: three questions about special relativity, nuclear physics and sub-nuclear physics. It is also required the student to be able to handle the system of natural units.
Reference texts
- -) V. Barone V., "Relativita'. Principi ed applicazioni" (Bollati Boringhieri 2004)
-) B. Povh, K. Rith, C. Scholz, "Particelle e nuclei" (Bollati Boringhieri 1998)
-) S. Braibant, G. Giacomelli, M. Spurio, "Particelle e interazioni fondamentali" (Springer 2012)
Some arguments will be treated by using slides which will be provided to the students.
