Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics SPA5302, 2019 Chris Clarkson, School of Physics & Astronomy
[email protected] These notes are evolving, so please let me know of any typos, factual errors etc. They will be updated weekly on QM+ (and may include updates to early parts we have already covered). Note that material in purple ‘Digression’ boxes is not examinable. Updated 16:29, on 05/12/2019. Contents 1 Basic Nuclear Properties4 1.1 Length Scales, Units and Dimensions............................7 2 Nuclear Properties and Models8 2.1 Nuclear Radius and Distribution of Nucleons.......................8 2.1.1 Scattering Cross Section............................... 12 2.1.2 Matter Distribution................................. 18 2.2 Nuclear Binding Energy................................... 20 2.3 The Nuclear Force....................................... 24 2.4 The Liquid Drop Model and the Semi-Empirical Mass Formula............ 26 2.5 The Shell Model........................................ 33 2.5.1 Nuclei Configurations................................ 44 3 Radioactive Decay and Nuclear Instability 48 3.1 Radioactive Decay...................................... 49 CONTENTS CONTENTS 3.2 a Decay............................................. 56 3.2.1 Decay Mechanism and a calculation of t1/2(Q) .................. 58 3.3 b-Decay............................................. 62 3.3.1 The Valley of Stability................................ 64 3.3.2 Neutrinos, Leptons and Weak Force........................ 68 3.4 g-Decay...........................................