NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE PHYSICS - 2023/4
Module code: PHY2067
Module Overview
The general properties of nuclei and radioactivity are studied, with an introduction to the deeper structure of elementary particles and the Standard Model. The nuclear physics includes alpha- and beta- and gamma-ray decay, nuclear fission and models of nuclear structure. The high energy physics includes the quark structure of hadrons, CPT conservation and CP violation and the impact of conservation rules on simple reactions of elementary particles.
Module provider
Mathematics & Physics
Module Leader
CATFORD Wilton (Maths & Phys)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 5
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 75
Lecture Hours: 22
Tutorial Hours: 11
Laboratory Hours: 18
Guided Learning: 24
Module Availability
Semester 2
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
None.
Module content
Indicative content includes:
Lecture Course:
Eleven weeks, generally comprising two hours of lectures and a one-hour examples class.
1. Basic Properties of Nuclei
Introduction, notation, review of angular momentum and potential wells in 3D in quantum mechanics, nuclear binding energy, semi-empirical mass formula.
2. Radioactive Decay
Exponential decay law, isotope production, secular and transient equilibrium, forms of radioactivity.
3. Alpha and Gamma Decay
Energetics of alpha-particle decay, barrier penetration model, Geiger-Nuttall rule, gamma-ray production and multipolarities, Weisskopf estimates, role of angular momentum and parity.
4. Beta Decay and Electron Capture
Q-values for beta decay, Fermi theory, Fermi and Gamow-Teller decays, role of angular momentum and parity, electron capture, selection rules.
5. Nuclear Models
Nuclear mean field, shell model, spin-orbit splitting, shell model configurations for nuclear ground states, configurations and spins for low-lying excited levels.
6. Nuclear Reactions
Types of nuclear reaction, centre of mass frame, Q-values and threshold energies, compound nuclear reactions, resonance reactions.
7. Fission and Reactors
Fission barriers, physics of fission, energy release and partitioning in fission, neutron induced fission, chain reaction, nuclear reactors, four-factor formula and extensions for losses.
8. Quark Structure of Nucleons and Mesons
Pions as carriers of the nuclear force, pion properties, conservation rules in particle decay, isospin, parity, CPT conservation, time reversal invariance, kaons, strangeness, quark basis for meson structure, CP violation in K0 decay.
9. Bosons, Leptons and Quarks
Z0 and W± properties, field particles, lepton families, conservation rules (energy, angular momentum, parity, baryon number, lepton number, isospin, strangeness and charm), quark model of mesons and baryons, multiplets using three generations of quarks, extension to include charm.
10. The Standard Model and Beyond
Particle decays in the quark model, J/psi decays, Weinberg angle, neutrino mass and flavour oscillations, search for the Higgs, particle physics effects in shaping in the early universe.
11. Review and Key Points
Summary of the whole course with comments, perspectives and examples of key concepts and points, numerical examples.
Experimental Laboratory:
- Five laboratory sessions of 4 hours, in the radiation laboratory. Two two-week experiments and a one-week experiment. Experiments are designed to study the properties of various kinds of radiation and the methods for detecting them, including the spectroscopy (energy measurement) and absorption properties of alpha-, beta-, gamma, positron and x-radiation and neutrons
An Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Awareness workshop.
Assessment pattern
Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
---|---|---|
Practical based assessment | LABORATORY COURSEWORK | 30 |
Online Scheduled Summative Class Test | ONLINE (OPEN BOOK) TEST WITHIN 4HR WINDOW | 10 |
Examination | END OF SEMESTER EXAMINATION - 2 HOURS | 60 |
Practical based assessment | EDI Awareness Engagement | Pass/Fail |
Alternative Assessment
The laboratory Diary and Report/Presentation Mark may be assessed by a condensed programme of laboratory work, with written laboratory report/presentation.
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate
recall of subject knowledge
ability to apply subject knowledge to unseen problems
ability to conduct laboratory experiments
communication of scientific ideas
The assessment of engagement with the EDI Awareness Workshop will be by an open book quiz with unlimited re-attempts, but it must be passed in order to pass the module.
For the physics lecture and laboratory components, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
An examination of 2 hr with a compulsory section with shorter questions and a second section of longer questions with 2 questions to be attempted from 3
marking the laboratory diary
a laboratory report and/or presentation mark
The Laboratory unit of assessment has a qualifying mark of 40%.
Formative assessment and feedback
Verbal feedback is given in the weekly tutorial sessions. The mid-semester test has feedback included, according to the student answers, and is discussed in class. Written feedback is given through the laboratory presentation, report and diary marking.
Module aims
- give a basic understanding of why some nuclei are stable and others are radioactive and why they decay in the ways that they do.
- introduce the concept of parity and how this quantum number, along with conservation of angular momentum, affects what physical processes will occur at the subatomic level.
- give a general understanding of the different families of elementary particles believed to exist according to the Standard Model and how the quarks combine to form mesons and baryons.
- introduce the effects of conservation rules (CPT, lepton number, baryon number, strangeness and charm¿) on the interactions and reactions of elementary particles.
- explain how to apply the understanding of nuclear and subnuclear processes to the solution of simple numerical problems and other problems related to nuclear and elementary particle reactions and decays.
Learning outcomes
Attributes Developed | ||
001 | Understand the trends in binding energy of nuclei across the nuclear chart | C |
002 | Calculate energies of particles emitted in nuclear decay processes | C |
003 | Calculate and make deductions about rates of decay for combined radioactivities | C |
004 | Predict which decay processes can be expected to dominate for particular nuclei and states | C |
005 | Predict the spins and parities of ground states and low-lying excited states in simple nuclei | C |
006 | Calculate nuclear reaction Q-values and related quantities | C |
007 | Describe the basic processes determining the operation of nuclear fission reactors | K |
008 | Identify the families of elementary particles according to the Standard Model | K |
009 | Describe fundamental interactions in terms of boson exchange | K |
010 | Describe the quark structure of mesons and hadrons | K |
011 | Predict the products of elementary particle reactions by the application of conservation principles | C |
012 | Evaluate the impact of elementary particle interactions on the early evolution of the Universe. | C |
013 | Recognise benefits of equality, diversity and inclusion and identify causes and effects of unconscious bias | T |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
equip students with subject knowledge
develop skills in applying subject knowledge to physical situations
develop laboratory practical skills
develop scientific writing skills
The learning and teaching methods include:
33h of lectures and tutorials as 3h/week x 11 weeks
18h of laboratory work
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: PHY2067
Programmes this module appears in
Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
---|---|---|---|
Mathematics and Physics MPhys | 2 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Mathematics and Physics MMath | 2 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics MPhys | 2 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Physics with Astronomy MPhys | 2 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Physics with Quantum Technologies MPhys | 2 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Physics MPhys | 2 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Physics BSc (Hons) | 2 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Physics with Astronomy BSc (Hons) | 2 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Physics with Quantum Technologies BSc (Hons) | 2 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics BSc (Hons) | 2 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Mathematics and Physics BSc (Hons) | 2 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.