,Contents
1 Nuclear Physics ................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Initial Problems ........................................................................................... 1
1.2 Nuclear Scattering ..................................................................................... 2
1.3 Nuclear Binding Energy............................................................................ 5
1.4 Nuclear Decays .......................................................................................... 8
1.5 Nuclear Models ......................................................................................... 10
References ........................................................................................................... 12
2 Particle Physics ................................................................................................. 13
2.1 Fundamental Interactions ....................................................................... 13
2.2 Hadrons ....................................................................................................... 15
2.3 Weak and Electro-Weak Interactions .................................................. 19
References ........................................................................................................... 21
3 Experiments and Detection Methods ......................................................... 23
3.1 Kinematics ................................................................................................. 23
3.2 Interaction of Radiation with Matter.................................................... 29
3.3 Detection Techniques and Experimental Methods ........................... 33
References ........................................................................................................... 41
Appendix: Solutions of Exercises and Problems ........................................ 43
ix
,Notes
Data
Each problem can be taken as stand-alone. This means that all input data
are provided in the text: For example, the relevant particle masses are
usually given in the text. The reader may notice that their accuracies can
change on a case-by-case basis. This feature is a consequence of the
origin of the text, since these problems were used for examinations and I
preferred to give all the needed input data at the accuracy required for
each specific case. On the other hand, it also allows the reader to pick up
problems randomly without requiring a sequential reading.
The problems are mainly numerical and require values of physical
constants, especially for conversion purposes. Whenever these values
are not reported in the text, the reader can refer to the PDG Review of
Particle Physics [2] which provides an up-to-date collection of constants,
units, atomic, and nuclear properties. This review is much more than a
simple collection and can be considered as a “must” for dealinḡ with any
nuclear and particle physics case.
Nuclear physics data are available from several sources. Some
examples are the National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC) at Brookhaven
National Laboratory [3] and the IAEA Nuclear Data Section [4].
Units
We use the International System of Units (SI), except for enerḡy, mass,
and momentum which are specified in terms of eV. This mixed system can
be easily handled and the system-specific electromaḡnetic constants
disappear promptly, usinḡ the SI definition of the fine structure constant a
and the value of h̄ c in mixed units.
In nuclear physics, kinematical expressions are mostly non-relativistic.
In par- ticle physics, the relativistic treatment is instead mandatory. As
adopted in many
, xi
1 Nuclear Physics ................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Initial Problems ........................................................................................... 1
1.2 Nuclear Scattering ..................................................................................... 2
1.3 Nuclear Binding Energy............................................................................ 5
1.4 Nuclear Decays .......................................................................................... 8
1.5 Nuclear Models ......................................................................................... 10
References ........................................................................................................... 12
2 Particle Physics ................................................................................................. 13
2.1 Fundamental Interactions ....................................................................... 13
2.2 Hadrons ....................................................................................................... 15
2.3 Weak and Electro-Weak Interactions .................................................. 19
References ........................................................................................................... 21
3 Experiments and Detection Methods ......................................................... 23
3.1 Kinematics ................................................................................................. 23
3.2 Interaction of Radiation with Matter.................................................... 29
3.3 Detection Techniques and Experimental Methods ........................... 33
References ........................................................................................................... 41
Appendix: Solutions of Exercises and Problems ........................................ 43
ix
,Notes
Data
Each problem can be taken as stand-alone. This means that all input data
are provided in the text: For example, the relevant particle masses are
usually given in the text. The reader may notice that their accuracies can
change on a case-by-case basis. This feature is a consequence of the
origin of the text, since these problems were used for examinations and I
preferred to give all the needed input data at the accuracy required for
each specific case. On the other hand, it also allows the reader to pick up
problems randomly without requiring a sequential reading.
The problems are mainly numerical and require values of physical
constants, especially for conversion purposes. Whenever these values
are not reported in the text, the reader can refer to the PDG Review of
Particle Physics [2] which provides an up-to-date collection of constants,
units, atomic, and nuclear properties. This review is much more than a
simple collection and can be considered as a “must” for dealinḡ with any
nuclear and particle physics case.
Nuclear physics data are available from several sources. Some
examples are the National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC) at Brookhaven
National Laboratory [3] and the IAEA Nuclear Data Section [4].
Units
We use the International System of Units (SI), except for enerḡy, mass,
and momentum which are specified in terms of eV. This mixed system can
be easily handled and the system-specific electromaḡnetic constants
disappear promptly, usinḡ the SI definition of the fine structure constant a
and the value of h̄ c in mixed units.
In nuclear physics, kinematical expressions are mostly non-relativistic.
In par- ticle physics, the relativistic treatment is instead mandatory. As
adopted in many
, xi
