ID:
SCC0115
Duration (hours):
64
CFU:
8
SSD:
FISICA NUCLEARE E SUBNUCLEARE
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Secondo Semestre (23/02/2026 - 12/06/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
This course will show to the third year student in Physics hFormative Aims
The aim of the course is to provide students with the basic notions of nuclear structure and nuclear and sub-nuclear interactions together with the theoretical and experimental techniques required for their study. Everything is presented within the framework of modern physics with the application of quantum mechanics and the use of relativistic mechanics. The basic physics of nuclear-energy production and the functioning of the Sun are also presented.
Expected Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Understand and describe the detailed structure of the nucleus in terms of the various existing models.
2. Calculate and analyse simple cross-sections in nuclear and subnuclear physics.
3. Understand and describe the various aspects of experimental nuclear and subnuclear physics; i.e. the construction and operation of the various types of detectors and accelerators.
4. Understand and describe the basis of the current standard model of the fundamental interactions.
ow the methods and concepts acquired in the courses of Electromagnetism and Quantum Physics allow to describe and understand the aggregation phenomena and the formation of complex structures, like atoms, molecules and solids. Special attention is devoted to the main experimental techniques devised to investigate these systems and to the statistical description of macroscopic aggregates.
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1) reduce a complex problem in its essential elements and then formalize them mathematically;
2) identify the most appropriate theoretical and experimental probes to investigate a given physical property.
The aim of the course is to provide students with the basic notions of nuclear structure and nuclear and sub-nuclear interactions together with the theoretical and experimental techniques required for their study. Everything is presented within the framework of modern physics with the application of quantum mechanics and the use of relativistic mechanics. The basic physics of nuclear-energy production and the functioning of the Sun are also presented.
Expected Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Understand and describe the detailed structure of the nucleus in terms of the various existing models.
2. Calculate and analyse simple cross-sections in nuclear and subnuclear physics.
3. Understand and describe the various aspects of experimental nuclear and subnuclear physics; i.e. the construction and operation of the various types of detectors and accelerators.
4. Understand and describe the basis of the current standard model of the fundamental interactions.
ow the methods and concepts acquired in the courses of Electromagnetism and Quantum Physics allow to describe and understand the aggregation phenomena and the formation of complex structures, like atoms, molecules and solids. Special attention is devoted to the main experimental techniques devised to investigate these systems and to the statistical description of macroscopic aggregates.
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1) reduce a complex problem in its essential elements and then formalize them mathematically;
2) identify the most appropriate theoretical and experimental probes to investigate a given physical property.
Course Prerequisites
For a better understanding of this course,
some acquaintaQuantum physics with exercise classes (Module 1)
Electromagnetism (Modules 1 and 2)
nce with Electromagnetism and elements of Quantum Physics are required.
some acquaintaQuantum physics with exercise classes (Module 1)
Electromagnetism (Modules 1 and 2)
nce with Electromagnetism and elements of Quantum Physics are required.
Teaching Methods
Conventional blackboard lectures, including exercise classes in the classroom, for a total of 64 hours.
The course notes are available online on the e-Learning platform.
The course notes are available online on the e-Learning platform.
Assessment Methods
The exam consists in an oral test. The student may choose to take two separate examThe course examination takes the form of a single final written test, without the use of notes or textbooks, lasting three hours. Various problems in classical, quantum and relativistic mechanics, nuclear interactions and structure are proposed, with the aim of verifying the student's ability to address and solve problems in nuclear and sub-nuclear physics, using the techniques illustrated and exemplified during the course.
To ascertain their expositional capabilities in nuclear and sub-nuclear physics, the students are required to write two one-page essays on topics related to the course chosen from a broad list of six possibilities. In addition, a series of problems divided into two main categories (kinematics/scattering and symmetry/quantum numbers) are proposed with six possible exercises in each.
To pass the exam with a minimum mark, the students are required to answer correctly at least one from each section. A total of five substantially correct answers plus two comprehensive essays will obtain 30/30, the laude is reserved for six or more fully correct replies.
s, one for each module, or undergo a single test on the full program at the end of the second semester. The first part of the exam will deal with statistical physics. The student will be asked to solve one problem under the supervision of the examiner. This test allows to verify the ability of the student to understand a problem, to identify the physical mechanism at the basis of the phenomenon and to set up a simple model for the quantitative interpretation of the problem. Later, the student will be asked to discuss one or more topics presented in the course. This second part allows to verify if the student deeply understood the physical mechanisms at the basis of the phenomena discussed in the course. In order to pass the exam the student must be able to frame the problem and to master in a sufficient way the topics discussed in the oral test. In order to successfully pass the exam the student must be able to solve correctly the problem and master the topics discussed in the oral test. Full marks will be granted to the student who is able to solve correctly the problem without any help from the examiner and to answer in an exhaustive way the questions posed in the oral test. This first part will be evaluated with a mark and can be taken starting from the end of the first semester. The second part of the exam can take place after the end of the second semester and follows the same model as the first one. It will deal with atomic and molecular physics and solid state physics. Also this part will be evaluated by the same criteria as the first one and will give rise to a mark. The final grade will be the average of the marks obtained in each module.
To ascertain their expositional capabilities in nuclear and sub-nuclear physics, the students are required to write two one-page essays on topics related to the course chosen from a broad list of six possibilities. In addition, a series of problems divided into two main categories (kinematics/scattering and symmetry/quantum numbers) are proposed with six possible exercises in each.
To pass the exam with a minimum mark, the students are required to answer correctly at least one from each section. A total of five substantially correct answers plus two comprehensive essays will obtain 30/30, the laude is reserved for six or more fully correct replies.
s, one for each module, or undergo a single test on the full program at the end of the second semester. The first part of the exam will deal with statistical physics. The student will be asked to solve one problem under the supervision of the examiner. This test allows to verify the ability of the student to understand a problem, to identify the physical mechanism at the basis of the phenomenon and to set up a simple model for the quantitative interpretation of the problem. Later, the student will be asked to discuss one or more topics presented in the course. This second part allows to verify if the student deeply understood the physical mechanisms at the basis of the phenomena discussed in the course. In order to pass the exam the student must be able to frame the problem and to master in a sufficient way the topics discussed in the oral test. In order to successfully pass the exam the student must be able to solve correctly the problem and master the topics discussed in the oral test. Full marks will be granted to the student who is able to solve correctly the problem without any help from the examiner and to answer in an exhaustive way the questions posed in the oral test. This first part will be evaluated with a mark and can be taken starting from the end of the first semester. The second part of the exam can take place after the end of the second semester and follows the same model as the first one. It will deal with atomic and molecular physics and solid state physics. Also this part will be evaluated by the same criteria as the first one and will give rise to a mark. The final grade will be the average of the marks obtained in each module.
Contents
• Introduction – Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics and Relativity:
› Wave–particle duality and the uncertainty principle;
› Lorentz transformations;
› Four-dimensional covariant space–time formulation.
› Revision of classical electromagnetism.
• The Nuclear Structure and Processes:
› Nuclear characteristics;
› Binding energy and stability;
› Nuclear models – liquid drop, shell, Fermi gas;
› Alpha, gamma and beta decay;
› Natural radioactive decay chains;
› The Deuteron and low-energy nucleon–nucleon diffusion;
› Fission, fusion and the principles of the nuclear reactor.
• The Interaction of Radiation with Matter:
› Introduction to the forms of radiation;
› Concept and definition of cross-section;
› Rutherford's scattering experiment;
› Fermi's golden rule.
› Interactions of photons with matter;
› The propagation of neutrons in matter;
› Cosmic rays and their interaction with the atmosphere.
• Radiation and Particle Detectors:
› The classification of detectors;
› General features – spectra, resolution, statistics;
› Gas detectors;
› Semiconductor detectors;
› Scintillators;
› CCD.
• Particle Accelerators:
› The classification of accelerators;
› Linear accelerators;
› Betatron, cyclotron, synchrotron.
• The Standard Model of Elementary Particle Physics:
› The classification of elementary particles;
› The electroweak interaction;
› The strong nuclear interaction;
› Grand unification and beyond.
› Wave–particle duality and the uncertainty principle;
› Lorentz transformations;
› Four-dimensional covariant space–time formulation.
› Revision of classical electromagnetism.
• The Nuclear Structure and Processes:
› Nuclear characteristics;
› Binding energy and stability;
› Nuclear models – liquid drop, shell, Fermi gas;
› Alpha, gamma and beta decay;
› Natural radioactive decay chains;
› The Deuteron and low-energy nucleon–nucleon diffusion;
› Fission, fusion and the principles of the nuclear reactor.
• The Interaction of Radiation with Matter:
› Introduction to the forms of radiation;
› Concept and definition of cross-section;
› Rutherford's scattering experiment;
› Fermi's golden rule.
› Interactions of photons with matter;
› The propagation of neutrons in matter;
› Cosmic rays and their interaction with the atmosphere.
• Radiation and Particle Detectors:
› The classification of detectors;
› General features – spectra, resolution, statistics;
› Gas detectors;
› Semiconductor detectors;
› Scintillators;
› CCD.
• Particle Accelerators:
› The classification of accelerators;
› Linear accelerators;
› Betatron, cyclotron, synchrotron.
• The Standard Model of Elementary Particle Physics:
› The classification of elementary particles;
› The electroweak interaction;
› The strong nuclear interaction;
› Grand unification and beyond.
Course Language
Italian
More information
Office reception hours:
by appointment (contact philip.ratcliffe@uninsubria.it)
by appointment (contact philip.ratcliffe@uninsubria.it)
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