Nuclear Structure and Reactions

PHYS40922 Nuclear Structure and Reactions 15 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 7 Department of Physics & Astronomy 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 7.5 <div style="border:1.0pt solid windowtext;padding:1.0pt 6.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">This unit provides a comprehensive introduction to nuclear structure and reactions, moving from the fundamental symmetries and forces that bind nucleons to practical models of scattering, reactions, and nuclear dynamics. Students will study nuclear forces, reaction mechanisms, and nuclear structure, before exploring collective phenomena such as deformation, vibrations, and rotations. The course culminates with modern developments in exotic nuclei alongside cutting-edge experimental techniques such as transfer reactions.</div> <div style="border:1.0pt solid windowtext;padding:1.0pt 6.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">This unit provides a comprehensive introduction to nuclear structure and reactions, moving from the fundamental symmetries and forces that bind nucleons to practical models of scattering, reactions, and nuclear dynamics. Students will study nuclear forces, reaction mechanisms, and nuclear structure, before exploring collective phenomena such as deformation, vibrations, and rotations. The course culminates with modern developments in exotic nuclei alongside cutting-edge experimental techniques such as transfer reactions.</div> <div style="border:1.0pt solid windowtext;padding:1.0pt 6.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">The unit aims to introduce the main features of the forces between nucleons, reactions between nuclei and models of nuclear structure, and to link to modern research in nuclear physics.</div> <figure class="table"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="634"><tbody><tr><td style="border:1.0pt solid windowtext;padding:0cm 5.4pt;width:47.95pt;" width="64">ILO 1</td><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:solid;border-width:1.0pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:324.0pt;" width="432">Describe the main features of the forces between protons and neutrons, and their relation to the underlying forces between quarks. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:solid;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:none;border-width:1.0pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;width:47.95pt;" width="64">ILO 2</td><td style="border-bottom:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:324.0pt;" width="432">Use cross sections and phase shifts to calculate quantum mechanical scattering processes. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:solid;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:none;border-width:1.0pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;width:47.95pt;" width="64">ILO 3</td><td style="border-bottom:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:324.0pt;" width="432">Show how simple models can explain the main features of nuclear reactions. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:solid;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:none;border-width:1.0pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;width:47.95pt;" width="64">ILO 4</td><td style="border-bottom:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:324.0pt;" width="432">Evaluate how single-particle and collective nuclear models are used to describe nuclear structure. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:solid;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:none;border-width:1.0pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;width:47.95pt;" width="64">ILO 5</td><td style="border-bottom:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:324.0pt;" width="432">Demonstrate how modern experimental techniques can be <div style="border:1.0pt solid windowtext;padding:1.0pt 6.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">Syllabus (S8, 36 lectures) 1. Nuclear forces (8 lectures): Symmetries in nuclear physics. Quarks to pions to nucleons. The deuteron. Scattering in QM systems. Partial waves. Effective-range expansion. Pion-exchange force. Isospin. NN interaction (Central, SO, tensor)  2. Nuclear reactions (7 lectures): Revision of Q-values. Reaction cross sections. Resonances. Optical Potential. Compound nucleus. Direct reactions (transfer). Fusion and the Sharp Cut Off Model. Limitations to Fusion. 3. Single-particle structure (7 lectures):Review of IPM. Shell model. Residual interactions. Two-particle states and mixing. Pairing. Spectra near closed shells.  4. Collective structure (3 lectures):Mean field. Deformation. Vibrational and rotational nuclei. 5. New physics in exotic nuclei (8 lectures):Proton and neutron driplines. Evolving shell structure. Fission limit and superheavy elements. Heavy-ion fusion. Techniques: transfer reactions, Coulex, laser spectroscopy, decay spectroscopy. 6.  3 revision/example classes (3 lectures):One each after Section 2, Section 4 and Section 5 <div style="border:1.0pt solid windowtext;padding:1.0pt 6.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">Synchronous learning:33 lectures3 revision sessions / example classes Asynchronous learning:Material available online prior to teaching sessions:Short videos of lecture materialSchematic summary of key conceptsLecture notesLecture slides (if used) </div> 1 Written exam 100% PHYS30021 Nuclear Physics Pre-Requisite Compulsory N <ul style="list-style-type:disc;padding-left:28.4px;"><li>Nuclear physics in a nutshell - C. A. Bertulani</li><li>Basic ideas and concepts in nuclear physics: an introductory approach – K. Heyde</li><li>Introductory nuclear physics – K. S. Krane</li><li>Introductory nuclear physics - S. S. M. Wong</li><li>Quantum Mechanics 4th Edition - F.Schwabl</li></ul> Lectures 36 0 114