Atomic and Nuclear Physics [Phys 433/Gsci 593]                                  Fall Semester, 2005


    Professor:  Dr. John K. Elwood

Text:  Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics, 2nd Edition, A. Das and T. Ferbel, Ó2003, World Scientific, ISBN 981-238-744-7 [required]

Lecture Times: W 9:00-10:30 AM in Gessner 117, F 10:00 AM -11:00 AM in Gessner 117

    Course Web Page: Access the course page from my home page at:

        http://www.esu.edu/~jelwood/

    To Haver with John:      email:  John.Elwood@po-box.esu.edu
                Office:  Gessner 201
                Office Phone: (570) 422 3408
                Office hours:      Tu  2:00 PM - 3:00 PM                                    W 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM        
                            Th 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM and 2:00 - 3:00 PM
                             F  8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

* and by appointment.  I am usually here! *

Course Description:  This course examines the quantum-mechanical basis of nuclear structure, taking a reductionist view.  The student will gain a solid grounding in elementary particle physics, including a detailed exploration of all forces and particles currently observed.  This knowledge will then be used to understand and predict nuclear properties.  The course will finish with a brief description of theories of extended objects.  
 
    Course Prerequisite:  PHYS 262

Special Needs:  Students who are eligible for accommodations are invited to make an appointment to deliver their letter from the Office of Disability Services and to discuss their accommodation requests.
    
Grading:  The points that you earn on Homework Problems and Exams determine your grade for the course.  They are worth, respectively:

            Homework                50%
            Take Home Exams [2]        25%
            In-Class Exams [2]            25%
                                100%

   Your course grade will be determined according to the prescription:

        90%-100%            A
        80%-89.9%            B
        70%-79.9%            C
        60%-69.9%            D
           < 60%            F

Homework: At this point you are all true believers.  You know that the only way to truly learn physics is to do it.  That's why I've made the homework worth an arresting 50% of your grade in this class.  This 50% is spread over 100 delightful homework problems that will be distributed to you as the course progresses.  The grading of the homework is simple:  each correct problem earns you one-half of a point; each incorrect problem earns you nothing.  Incorrect problems will be returned to you with comments.  You are free to resubmit problems as many times as you like.  When you finally do get a problem correct, you get your half-point.  While working on the homework, you may consult with other students, but the work that you turn in must be your own.

Take-Home Exams: As stated above, two Take-Home Exams will be given during the term.  They will be handed out on Friday, September 23 and Friday, November 18, respectively.  You will be allowed to consult your textbook and notes while working on the Take-Home Exams, but will not be allowed to consult with any humans while working on the exams (save myself).

In-Class Exams: The first In-Class Exam will be given on Wednesday, October 19, while the second will be given during Finals Week.  The In-Class Exams will be completed without reference materials of any kind, although the use of calculators will be allowed.

Obtaining Assignments: I will typically provide reading and homework assignments weekly.  If you miss these, you can get them either from the course website or from the tray outside my door.

Retention of Student Material/Garbage Reduction Act:  Student exams, homework, and other contributions that are not picked up will be kept for one year after the close of the current term.  That is, all contributed student material may be destroyed at any time following the first week of the Spring 2007 semester.


   Good luck in the Class!  May all of your anomalies cancel!





Selected Bibliography


It is surprisingly difficult to find a single text that handles atomic, nuclear, and particle physics well!  You may therefore wish to supplement your course text with some of the titles listed below.


For another text that attempts to handle both nuclear and particle physics, try  

Richard A. Dunlap, An Introduction to the Physics of Nuclei and Particles, Thomson/Brooks/Cole, 2004, ISBN 0534392946.


A nice introduction to Nuclear Physics at the advanced undergraduate level is given in

Samuel S. M. Wong, Introductory Nuclear Physics, 2rd Edition, Wiley Interscience, 1999, ISBN 0471239739.


For more information on particle physics and introductory quantum field theory, see

David Griffiths, Introduction to Elementary Particles, New Ed. Edition, J. Wiley, 1987, ISBN 0471603864.


And if you really wish to stroll through the quantum fields, you might like

A. Zee, Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell, Princeton University Press, 2003, ISBN 0691010196.