Nuclear Physics and Particles

- To introduce the students in subatomic physics subjects
- To introduce the fundamental components of matter and their interactions
- To familiarize the student with the study of the atomic nucleus and its constituents: the nucleons.
- To present the nucleus as a many-body complex systems. To understand and classify the properties of nuclei.
- To learn about transfer of basic knowledge to different technological matters that provide important social benefits

"Learning outcomes": The student should probe:
· To have acquired knowledge of subatomic physics
· To know the fundamental components of matter and their interactions
· To know how to classify and explain the properties of nuclei
· To be able to apply the acquired knowledge to different technological advances that provide important social benefits.
· To possess a deep understanding of physical underlying phenomena.
· To have acquired advanced skills in problem solving.

• Basic concepts
- Constituents of matter
- Fundamental interactions
- Symmetry and conservation laws
- Continuous symmetries. Discrete symmetries, C and P violation and CP violation
- Structure of the subatomic world. Dispersion experiments: Cross section.
- Nuclear and Particle Physics in the 21st century

• Nuclear interaction
- Nuclear interaction. Scope of the nuclear force.
- The deuteron

• Properties of the nuclei
- The nuclear landscape.
- Masses of the nuclei. Binding energy. Nuclear stability and abundance curve. Experimental determination of atomic masses
- Nuclear sizes. Charge and mass densities. Determination of the size of the nuclei: dispersion experiments ....
- Nuclear states: Spin and parity. Nuclear moments.

• Radioactive decay processes
- Radioactive phenomena. Radioactive decay law. Natural chains. General equations and equilibrium conditions
- Alpha decay. Gamow theory. Selection rules
- Beta decay. Fermi theory. Selection rules
- Electromagnetic transitions. Selection rules

• Structure of the atomic nucleus
- Nuclear models: collective and independent particle
- Evidence of the Shell structure. Shell model
- Nuclear vibrations. Nuclear deformation. Rotational model

• Nuclear reactions
- Direct reactions. Kinematics of reactions to two bodies. Access to independent particle states
- Compound nucleus reactions. Study of Resonances. Collective properties

• Elementary particles
- Fundamental interactions
- Production, classification and properties of elementary particles
- Leptons and quarks. Charged currents and neutral currents
- Strong interaction. Nucleon composition. Mesons and baryons

• Standard Model of Particle Physics
- Standard Model of Particle Physics
- Exchange forces. QED. QCD
- Feymann diagrams
- Higs boson
- Open questions

• Seminars on hot topics

BASIC BIBLIOGRAPHY

Introductory nuclear physics, Keneth S. Krane, Ed: John Wiley & Sons.
Introduction to Elementary Particles, D. Griffiths. John Wiley & Sons.
Particle Physics, B. R. Martin & G. Shaw.-, 3ª Ed. John Wiley & Sons.
Física nuclear y de partículas, Ferrer Soria, Antonio, Ed: Universitat de Valencia.

COMPLEMENTARY BIBLIOGRAPHY

Nuclear and Particle Physics, W. E. Burcham & M. Jobes. Cambridge University Press.
Nuclear Physics in a Nutshell, Bertulani, Carlos, Ed: Princeton University Press.
Radioactivity, Radionuclides, Radiation, J. Magill & J. Galy, Springer – Verlag, Berlin.
Modern Particle Physics, M. Thomson, Cambridge University Press.
Fundamentals in Nuclear Physics, Basdevant, Jean-Louis, Rich, James and Spiro Michel. Ed: Springer.
Introductory nuclear physics , P.E. Hodgson and E. Gadioli and E. Gadioli Erba, Ed: Clarendon.
Subatomic physics, Frauenfelder, Hans and Henley E. M. , Ed: Prentice. E.M. Henley, A. García. 3ª Edición. John Wiley& Sons
Introduction to elementary particle physics, Bettini, Alessandro, Cambridge University Press.
Nuclear and Particle Physics, an Introduction, B. R. Martin, John Wiley & Sons.
Radiation detection and measurement, Knoll, Glenn F., Ed: John Wiley & Sons.

Online resources

The course makes use of various materials, with open to the public acces and maintained by national or international institutions. Students will routinely use them as databases, to have access to level diagrams, physical constants, and any other teaching material. The available material is abundant and even though we transfer lot of information through the virtual campus, students will make greater use of the following documentation centers:

http://www.nndc.bnl.gov
http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/index.html
http://www.iaea.org
http://pdg.lbl.gov

ESSENTIAL PREREQUISITES:
- Good mathematical training (equivalent to pass the Mathematical Methods I and III subjects).
- Deep understanding of General Physics principles (equivalent to pass the General Physics I and II subjects).
- Comprehension of Quantum Phenomena and Quantum machanics formalism (equivalent to pass Quantum Physics I and Quantum Physics II subjects)


Once students have passed the left exam they should have acquired the following COMPETENCES:

BASIC:
CB1-That students have proven to possess and understand knowledge in a study area that is part of the basis of general secondary education, and is often found at a level that, while supported by advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that involve knowledge from the forefront of their field of study.
CB2-That students know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and possess the competencies that are often demonstrated through the elaboration and defense of arguments and the resolution of problems within their area of study.
CB3-That students have the ability to collect and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgments that include reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.

GENERAL:
CG1-Possess and understand the most important concepts, methods and results of the different branches of physics, with historical perspective of their development.
CG2-Have the capacity to gather and interpret relevant data, information and results, to obtain conclusions and to issue reasoned reports in scientific, technological or other areas that require the use of knowledge of physics.
CG3-Apply both the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired as the capacity of analysis and abstraction in the definition and approach of problems and in the search of their solutions in both academic and professional contexts.

TRANSVERSAL:
CT1-Acquire analysis and synthesis capacity.
CT2-Have organizational capacity and planning.
CT5-Develop critical reasoning.

SPECIFIC:
CE1-Have a good understanding of the most important physical theories, locating in their logical and mathematical structure, their experimental support and the physical phenomenon that can be described through them.
CE2-Be able to clearly handle the orders of magnitude and make appropriate estimates in order to develop a clear perception of situations that, although physically different, show some analogy, allowing the use of known solutions to new problems.
CE5-Be able to realize the essentials of a process or situation and establish a model of work of the same as well as to carry out the required approximations in order to reduce the problem to a manageable level. Possess critical thinking to build physical models.
CE6-Understand and master the use of the mathematical and numerical methods most commonly used in physics.
CE8-Be able to manage, search and use bibliography, as well as any source of relevant information and apply it to research and technical development projects.

We will use a methodology based on theory lectures that will be complemented with practical sessions (solving exercises). Teaching will be face-to-face.

Specific seminars will help to introduced to current research topics in the field of nuclear and particle physics to the students.

The professors will closely follow the evolution of the students through tutorials as well as the interactive session (smaller groups). The tutorials may be face-to-face or online, by appointment, depending on the demand of the students. They could also be organization for small groups.
The virtual classroom (AV) will be used as a channel for communication and publication of results. Various teaching materials will be also available to students through AV.

The evaluation system offers the combination of a continuous evaluation with the realization of an exam to be done on the dates enabled by the Faculty. The student's final mark will be the maximum between the two possibilities:
* 35% continuous + 65% exam
* exam mark

In the continuous evaluation, will be computed: student participation, realization of exercises and 2 tests to assess the skills acquired (they do not eliminate material for the final exam) and whose completion will coincide with the assigned teaching hours. In addition, optional work on research topics related to the subject will be proposed.

For cases of fraudulent completion of exercises or tests, the provisions of the "Rules of assessment of academic performance of students and review of qualifications" will apply.

The teaching hours are divided into 32 HE that are taught in large groups using both the blackboard and projection media as material,
24 HI taught in small groups and 4 HT dedicated to the realization and presentation of individualized work or in very small groups.

For each hour of classroom class it is estimated that the student needs approximately one and a half hours of personal work, which means that each student needs 75 to 90 hours of individualized study, exercises and work to successfully pass this course.

Attendance to class, study of the topics, resolution and discussion of the proposed exercises. Carrying out volunteer work. Use of complementary bibliography. It is also important to pay attention to the instructions and materials that are made available to students in the Virtual Classroom of the subject.