2019/2020

2021/2022

DM270

FIS/04 (NUCLEAR AND SUBNUCLEAR PHYSICS)

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

PHYSICS

PERCORSO COMUNE

3°

1st semester (29/09/2021 - 19/01/2022)

6

48 lesson hours

Italian

ORAL TEST

PASQUINI BARBARA (titolare) - 6 ECTS

Basic knowledge of classical physics

The course provides the basic notions of the physics of nuclei with particular attention to the definition of the most important observables, to the methodology of their measurement and to the most significant experiments.
The atomic nuclei are analyzed and through the study of their properties, some characteristics of the strong nuclear interaction are outlined that the students will deepen in dedicated courses.
The issues are introduced by describing the phenomenology, the approach used in the measurements and a quantitative description is given whenever it is possible to use simple calculation methods. Through the course the analogy of the description of nuclei with other many-body systems is highlighted and the specific technologies and methodologies of this sector are highlighted. The most current research topics in this area are also mentioned.

At the end of the course the student will have acquired a basic knowledge of nucleus physics, which serves as a support for those who intend to deepen this discipline in dedicated courses and which in any case provides introductory training also for those who will dedicate themselves to other disciplines. The student will be able to perform simple calculations of nuclear phenomena and reactions.

Atoms and nuclei: properties of atoms, Thomson's experiment and charge / mass ratio of the electron, first atomic models (Thomson), scattering
of Rutherford, atomic model of Rutherford, the atomic nucleus and its components (protons and neutrons).
Properties of nuclei: size, radius, mass, binding energy, stability, spin, parity, electromagnetic moments.
Nuclear interaction and nucleon-nucleon potential.
Nucleus models: liquid drop model and semi-empirical formula for the mass, Fermi model, nuclear shell model.
Nuclear reactions: general introduction, cross section, reaction processes, reactions with the formation of a compound nucleus, direct reactions.
Fission: reaction with neutrons, fission, neutron induced fission, uranium fission, chain reactions, nuclear reactors.
Fusion, fusion and nucleosynthesis in stars, fusion in the laboratory.
Radioactivity: life time of nuclei, probability and law of decay, radioactive series.
Alpha, beta, gamma decays.
Accelerators: falling potential accelerators (Cockcroft-Walton, Van de Graaff, tandem), linear accelerators, circular accelerators (cyclotron, synchrotron, betatron).
Detectors: interaction between radiation and matter, energy loss by ionization, ionization chamber, proportional detectors, wire chambers, drift chambers, Geiger-Muller detectors, scintillators, Cherenkov detectors, trace detectors.
Effects of radiation on biological systems.
Applications of nuclear power: 14C method for archaeological dating, nuclear medicine, industrial and analytical applications.

Frontal lessons. Simple exercises may also be proposed and solved.
A copy of the slides used during the lessons is provided to the students. Handouts with notes from the teacher are also provided.

B. Povh, K. Rith, C. Scholz, F. Zetsche, W. Rodejohann, Particles and Nuclei: An Introduction to the Physical Concepts, Springer Verlag

R.J. Blin-Stoyle Nuclear and Particle Physics, Chapman & Hall (1991)

E.J. Burge Atomic Nuclei and their particles Clarendon Press (2002)

J.S. Lilley Nuclear Physics Principles and Applications Wiley (2001)

Oral interview.
The oral exam is always conducted by the teacher in charge and by another expert in the subject and has a duration that varies between about 30 and about 50 minutes. It is divided into a fixed number of questions that relate to the exam program and allows the commission to ascertain the acquisition of knowledge relating to the topics of the course, with particular attention to critical reasoning skills and the use of an appropriate vocabulary.