Physics and astronomy

Nuclear and Particle Physics

Module code: F3221
Level 6
15 credits in autumn semester
Teaching method: Class, Lecture, Workshop
Assessment modes: Coursework, Unseen examination

This module includes:

• the basic properties of nuclei
• elementary particles, their interactions and decays.

Pre-requisite

Pre-requisites:
Level 5: (F3239) Quantum Mechanics 1 [T2].

Co-requisites:
Level 6: (F3211) Atomic Physics [T1]

Module learning outcomes

• To make calculations involving precise nuclear masses and energies and to predict ground state nuclear spins and parities using the shell model.
• To distinguish types of nuclear decay processes and to make quantitative calculations on radioactivity.
• To demonstrate an understanding of the four fundamental types of inter-particle forces and their symmetry properties.
• To classify elementary particles and their reaction and decay processes and to show how the classifications are explained in terms of quarks, leptons and fundamental forces.