SUBATOMICS PHYSICS
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2022/2023
- Teacher
- PAOLO LENISA
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Secondo Semestre
- SSD
- FIS/04
Training objectives
- The aim of the course is to provide an 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/time scales typical of subatomic physics and of the fundamental interactions.At the end of the course the student will have a knowledge of the elements constituting the nucleus and the nucleons and a characterization of their interactions. He will also be able to familiarize himself with the notions required to estimate orders of magnitude of energies, cross sections and decay times typical of the different kinds of fundamental interactions.
Prerequisites
- Knowledge of classical physics (mechanics and electromagnetism) and familiarity with the basic concepts of quantum mechanics and special relativity. Knowledge of the mathematical tools provided in the courses of analysis, geometry and mathematical methods of physics is also required.
Course programme
- The course consists of two parts: elements of nuclear physics, investigation methods and applications (36 hours) and introduction to the standard model (20 hours). The remaining 4 hours are used for a historical introduction to particle physics and a brief discussion on current research topics.
Didactic methods
- The lessons are on the blackboard and with transparencies support. The course on the board allows the students to follow the presented calculations, having the time to elaborate the concepts and possibly ask questions to the teacher during the lesson. "Slides" are used to show students the graphs showing the experimental results (cross sections, binding energies of nuclei, etc.). Some hours will be devoted to exercises to provide students with adequate preparation to approach quantitative problems.
Learning assessment procedures
- Written exam and oral exam. The first consists in the presentation of an a report (5-10 pages) on a topic agreed with the teacher. In the oral exam the student, in addition to answering theoretical questions on the topics covered in the course, will have to demonstrate knowledge of the orders of magnitude characteristic of nuclear physics and to be familiar with the system of natural units.
Reference texts
- B. Povh, K. Rith, C. Scholz, "Particelle e nuclei" (Boringhieri 1998)
K.S. Krane "Introductory Nuclear Physics" (Wiley)
W.S.C Williams "Nuclear and Particle Physics (Clarendon Press)
All topics are supported by slides that will be made available to the student. The slides do not replace the texts.
