Theoretical physics : Nuclei and particles

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

Lecturer

Jean-René Cudell

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Complements of nuclear physics, in particular quantum elastic scattering, the WKB method applied to alpha decay, the concept of particle exchange, and the concept of continuous internal symmetries.
Introduction to accelerators and detectors, to particle physics and to the standard model, including the Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism.
Contents
Natural Units
I Nuclear physics 
1 Properties of nuclei
2 Collisions in quantum mechanics
3 Alpha decay (two-body)
4 Beta decay (three-body)
5 Nuclear fusion
6 Nuclear fission
II Detectors and Accelerators
1 Particle Detection
2 Accelerators
III Particle Physics
1. Overview
2. Elements of the theory of continuous groups
3. The quark model
4. Gauge symmetries
5. Quantum chromodynamics
6. Electroweak interactions
7. Neutrino oscillations 
8. CP violation and flavour mixing
9. Dark matter

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of the course, students will be able:
1) to use new methods in quantum mechanics;
2) to follow recent developments in particle physics;
3) to understand and analyse the main issues related to nuclear physics;
4) to use databases related to nuclear physics and particle physics.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Quantum mechanics, introduction to nuclear physics.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

This course is based on lectures, corresponding to the table of contents. Each session will be preceded by a discussion and/or a Q & A session. Students are also invited to consult and use the many links available on the course web pages.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

The slides of the course, as well as many additional references, are available on the course web pages.

Recommended or required readings

A. Das and T. Ferbel, "Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics", John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1994; L.D. Landau and L.M. Lifshitz, "Quantum Mechanics. Non-Relativistic Theory", Third Edition: Volume 3, Butterworth&Heinemann, 2003; F. Halzen and A. Martin, "Quarks and Leptons: An Introductory Course in Modern Particle Physics", John Wiley & Sons, 1984.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam


Additional information:

Oral exam. One question will be on Parts I and II of the course, and another on Part III. The questions are available on the course web pages, and are subject to change during the year.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

The course will be organised in 20 one-and-a-half-hour lectures.

Contacts

Jean-René Cudell
Institute of physics 19A Allée du 6 août Bldg B5a (4th floor, room 4/44) University of Liège Tel.: 04/3663654
E-mail: jr.cudell@ulg.ac.be
Web pages: http://www.theo.phys.ulg.ac.be

Association of one or more MOOCs

Items online