@SOLUTIONSSTUDY
, @SOLUTIONSSTUDY
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
, @SOLUTIONSSTUDY
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 dealing 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 energy,
mass, and momentum which are specified in terms of eV. This
mixed system can be easily handled and the system-specific
electromagnetic constants disappear promptly, using the SI
definition of the fine structure constant a and the value of ¯h c in
mixed units.
In nuclear physics, kinematical expressions are mostly non-
relativistic. In par- ticle physics, the relativistic treatment is
, @SOLUTIONSSTUDY
instead mandatory. As adopted in many
xi
, @SOLUTIONSSTUDY
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
, @SOLUTIONSSTUDY
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 dealing 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 energy,
mass, and momentum which are specified in terms of eV. This
mixed system can be easily handled and the system-specific
electromagnetic constants disappear promptly, using the SI
definition of the fine structure constant a and the value of ¯h c in
mixed units.
In nuclear physics, kinematical expressions are mostly non-
relativistic. In par- ticle physics, the relativistic treatment is
, @SOLUTIONSSTUDY
instead mandatory. As adopted in many
xi
