PHGN422: Nuclear Physics

SPRING 2006


Instructor:
Jim McNeil
Meyer Hall 325
Phone: (303) 273-3844,
email: jamcneil@Mines.edu
Personal Webpage

Text: Subatomic Physics, Frauenfelder and Henley, 2nd ed.

Additional reading:

  • W.S.C. Williams, Nuclear and Particle Physics, Oxford, 1991, ISBN 0-19-852046-8
  • Kenneth S. Krane, Introductory Nuclear Physics, Wiley, 1988, ISBN 0-471-80553-X
  • P.E. Hodgson, E. Gadioli and E. Gadioli Erba, Introductory Nuclear Physics, Oxford, 1997, ISBN 0-19-851897-8
  • W.N. Cottingham and D.A. Greenwood, An introduction to Nuclear Physics, Cambridge, 2nd edition, 2001, ISBN 0-521-65733-4
Course Learning Objectives: This course will introduce the student to a wide assortment of particle and nuclear phenomena. The course objective is to develop the framework of skills and knowledge necessary to understand those phenomena in applied contexts. Following a brief review of quantum mechanics, the course will follow the general outline of Frauenfelder and Henley: symmetries, interactions, models, and applications.

Homework:
Worked out problems like the end of chapter problems will be collected periodically. These problems will be peer graded. Peer graders are required to complete the grading within one week.
Each student must present term calculation of some physical property or process relating to particle or nuclear physics (e.g. a scattering cross section, a decay rate, a spectrum, a magnetic moment, etc.). The topic should be of interest to the student, but must be approved by the instructor. The calculation need not be realistic; simple model calculations are acceptable. The project should be significantly more involved than a homework assignment and should involve some numerical component. In addition, each student must prepare a short (5 page) report on their project and report his/her work to the class in a 10-minute "APS" style presentation.

Grading

1. Homework: 30 %
2. Peer homework grading: 5%
3. Term calculation 25%.
4. Midterm exam: 20%
5. Final exam: 20%


This page was last updated by JAM on 1/13/06