Physics 441

A Topical Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics

Spring 2009

Class Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30-10:45 AM

Room: 1304 Physics Building (please note the change of room from the original assignment)

Instructors: E. Beise, C. Hall and L. A. Orozco, Dept of Physics

Course Description:

This course is an introduction to particle and nuclear physics, with a topical emphasis on the impact of the Weak Interaction and the discovery of Parity Violation. Physics 401 (or 420) and 411 are a prerequisite for the course. Physics 402, or permission by one of the instructors, is a co-requisite.

Textbook: There will be no required textbook, but the following books will be used regularly as references.

Additional References:

“Subatomic Physics”, by E. Henley and A. Garcia (recommended)

“The Physics of Nuclei and Particles”, R. Dunlap

“The Experimental Foundations of Particle Physics” by R.N. Cahn and G. Goldhaber

“Introduction to High Energy Physics”, D.H. Perkins

“Introductory Nuclear Physics”, P.E. Hodgson, E. Gadioloi and E. Gadioli-Erba

"Introductory Nuclear Physics", Keneth Krane

Course Objectives and expected outcomes:

The purpose of this course is to expose students to aspects of modern research in particle and nuclear physics, starting from the historical perspective of the discovery of parity violation and the weak interaction as a course theme – it is not to be a complete survey of either field, but will instead cover selected topics and methods. The format will be lecture-based, with some homework and practice in reading, evaluating and writing scientific papers, and emphasis on design of precision measurements and null tests.

Grading Scheme:

Homework: 30%

Writing assignments and oral presentations: 60%

Class participation: 10%

The exact schedule will likely change as the course develops. Below is a listing of the topics that we plan to include, in approximate order.

If you are registered in the course you have access to the Blackboard page at ELMS where you will find more recent updates to the schedule and the lecture notes.

Week of		Topic	Tentative Lecturer
	General Introduction
27-Jan		Introduction to Symmetries	Orozco
3-Feb		Introduction to Nuclear Physics	Beise
10-Feb		Introduction to Particle Physics	Hall
	Setting the Stage for Parity Violation
17-Feb		Nuclei, radioactivity, the neutron	Beise
24-Feb		Muons, pions, and the neutrino	Hall
3-Mar		Beta decay from 1957 to present	Orozco
10-Mar		Scattering: Rutherford to SLAC	Beise
17-Mar		SPRING BREAK -- NO CLASS
	The Weak Interaction as a Tool
24-Mar		Origin of the Elements	Beise/Hall
31-Mar		Neutron beta decay	Orozco/Beise
7-Apr		The weak interaction in nuclei	Orozco/Beise
14-Apr		Electron and Neutrino Scattering	Beise
21-Apr		Neutrinos, Oscillations, CP violation	Hall
28-Apr		W,Z decays, the Standard Model	Hall
5-May		ORAL PRESENTATIONS
13-May	(Tues only)	ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Last modified on January 28, 2009