Syllabus

Module 1: (12 hours)
Nuclear radii and charge distributions, measurement techniques (electron scattering, muonic X-rays), variation of nuclear radii with mass number. Nuclear two-body problem, deuteron as a two-body system, properties of deuteron (binding energy, magnetic dipole, and electric quadrupole moments). Binding energy and stability of nuclei, mass defect, and semi-empirical mass formula. Electric and magnetic moments, measurement techniques, and implications. Nuclear force and its nature, short-range, saturation, and tensor characteristics. Yukawa theory, meson exchange potential, range of nuclear force. Deuteron problem, ground state properties, and tensor force contribution.

Module 2: (10 hours)
Liquid drop model, assumptions, semi-empirical mass formula, and energy contributions. Fermi-gas model, energy level derivation, and Fermi energy. Stable isobar, mass parabolas, and beta stability. Single particle shell model, magic numbers, prediction of spins and parities, and limitations. Collective model, rotational spectra of deformed nuclei and vibrational spectra, with experimental observations.

Module 3: (10 hours)
Nuclear decay: alpha, beta, and gamma. Alpha decay, Gamow’s theory, and Geiger-Nuttall law. Beta decay, Fermi theory, allowed and forbidden transitions, and parity violation. Gamma decay, multipole transitions, and selection rules. Radioactive series, natural decay chains (Uranium, Thorium, and Actinium series).

Module 4: (8 hours)
Nuclear kinematics, Q-value, and classification of nuclear reactions. Fusion and fission reactions, mechanisms, and applications. Compound nucleus formation, Bohr’s hypothesis, and resonance phenomena. Brief overview of ion-beam applications for materials.

Module 5: (8 hours)
Standard model, elementary particles (fermions and bosons), and gauge interactions. Fundamental forces: gravitational, electromagnetic, weak, and strong. Particle classifications, leptons, quarks, mesons, and baryons. Spin and parity, intrinsic spin, and parity conservation. Isospin, charge independence, and symmetry. Strangeness and hypercharge, Gell-Mann and Nishijima scheme. Baryon and lepton numbers, conservation laws, and implications.
Gell-Mann-Nishijima formula, charge, isospin, and hypercharge relations. Conservation laws, parity (P), charge conjugation (C), and time reversal (T) invariance. Quarks in hadrons, meson and baryon classification. Meson and baryon octets, SU(3) symmetry, and decuplets. Parity violation and CP violation, implications of weak interactions. C, P, and T invariance, discrete symmetries, and experimental observations.

To understand nuclear composition, binding forces, and deuteron properties.

To explore alpha, beta, and gamma decay, nuclear reactions, and energy sources.

To introduce concepts and phenomena governed by the Standard Model.

To examine fundamental interactions, particle-antiparticle symmetries, and matter-antimatter concepts.

5. To analyze hadron classification, symmetry violations, and implications of C, P, and T invariance.

At the end of the course, students will be able to:
CO1: Understand the principles and models of nuclear structure, nuclear forces, and binding mechanisms.

CO2: Analyze nuclear decay processes, including beta decay, and understand weak interactions and their role in particle physics.

CO3: Explain the classification of fundamental particles, their interactions, and the significance of conservation laws.

CO4: Explore the quark structure of hadrons and comprehend the implications of symmetry violations in particle physics.

CO5: Apply theoretical concepts to understand nuclear reactions, energy generation, and ion-beam applications.

V. Devanathan, Nuclear Physics 2nd Revised edition edition, Alpha Science International Ltd , 2nd Revised Edition (2006)

K. S. Krane, Introductory Nuclear Physics, Wiley India Pvt. Ltd. (2008).

F. Halzen and A. Martin, Quarks and Leptons: An Introductory Course in Modern Particle Physics, Wiley India (1984).

Griffith, D. J, Introduction to Elementary particles, Wiley-VCH (2008).