Physics 443: Atomic & Nuclear Physics
Prerequisite: Physics 340
To be taught, fall 2003; offered every fall
This course is an extension of P340 (Introductory QM). We will
discuss more methods & applications of quantum mechanics, and also
discuss basic particles. The QM is straightforward and well understood.
You will find, however, that the particle physics is a moving target.
We will try to strike a balance between simply bug collecting, and a
surfeit of math.
Text: Subatomic Physics, Frauenfelder & Henley, 2nd edition 1991.
And: Notes related to class lectures will appear on this site.
Some useful high-energy physics links:
The LBL Particle Data Group
is the fundamental resource for particle properties (updated yearly).
It is also a good source of constants, review articles, math tools,
etc. One of their good pages is
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Online particle
physics information which is a good complication of web
resources
The NRL Plasma Formulary is a good source of fundamental
constants, basic electrodynamics, and atomic physics data,
as well as fluid and plasma physics formulae.
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Notes 0: dimensions
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Notes 0: Maxwell
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Notes 0: constants in cgs
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Notes 0: constants in si
Course outline and schedule
Section I: PARTICLES AND BASIC QM TOOLS
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Notes 1: the 4 forces
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Notes 2: special relativity
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Notes 3: creation/destruction ops
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Notes 4: commutators & matrices
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Notes 5: quarks & multiplets
Section II: SYMMETRIES AND CONSERVATION LAWS
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Notes 6: fun from classical physics
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Notes 7: more fun from classical physics
Section III: ANGULAR MOMENTUM AND ISOSPIN
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Notes 8: Angular momentum
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Notes 9: Spin 1/2
Section IV: P, C AND T
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Notes 10: adding angular momenta
Section V: EM INTERACTIONS
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Notes 11: simple perturbations
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Notes 11a: simple perturbations, addenda
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Notes 12: radiative transitions
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Notes 13: photon emission
Section VI: QUARKS AND STRONG FORCES
Section VII: THE ASTROPARTICLE CONNECTION
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Notes 14: the dark side of the universe
Added after the fact, homework and sample problems from 2003:
Problem set 1,
Problem set 2,
Problem set 3,
Problem set 4,
Problem set 5,
Problem set 6,
Problem set 7,
Problem set 8,
Problem set 9,
Problem set 10,
Problem set 11,
Problem set 12
and
sample problems 1,
sample problems 2,
sample problems 3,
sample problems 4,
sample problems 5,
sample problems 6,
sample problems 7,
sample problems 8,
sample problems 9,
sample problems 10,
sample problems 11,
sample problems 12
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