Physics 404/Physics 581: Introduction to Particle and Nuclear Physics

Fall 2022

Classes:

Tues, Thurs, 12:30 - 1:50 pm      Small 122

Description:

This course provides an introduction to applications of quantum mechanics in particle and nuclear physics.
Topics include: Global properties of nuclei, nuclear stability, nucleon structure, elastic and deep inelastic scattering from nuclei, QCD (quarks and gluons), quarkonia and other mesons, e+e- collitions, weak interaction phenomenology, neutrino oscilllations, weak bosons and electroweak Standard Model.

Prerequisites:

For undergraduate students, PHYS 313 and PHYS 314 (Quantum I and II) are prerequisites, although the requirement for PHYS 314 may be waived by permission of the instructor.
For graduate students PHYS 621 is a prerequisite.

Text:

Our textbook will be:
  Particles and Nuclei: An Introduction to the Physical Concepts (Graduate Texts in Physics) 7th Edition
   Authors: Bogdan Povh, Klaus Rith, Christoph Scholz, Frank Zetsche, Werner Rodejohann
   ISBN-13: 978-3662463208
   Publisher: Springer (2015)

Notes: the textbook is available as an E-book for rent or to purchase, as well as a paperback or hardcover We will supplement the text, where needed, with materials from other texts and articles, which will be posted on Blackboard. There will also be a selection of other texts on reserve for your use in Swem.

Grading Scheme:

There will be homework assignments, roughly every two weeks, and a final research paper, including an oral presentation of the research paper. The final research presentations will be done during the last two weeks of classes.

For graduate students only, there will be an additional 30-minute oral presentation, based on an analysis of a current detector system used in particle or nuclear physics, which will be due mid-semester.

There will not be a final exam (for either graduate or undergraduate students).

For undergraduates, the grades will be calculated based on: 

    Homework            : 25% 
    Research Paper      : 40% 
    Paper Presentation  : 15% 
    Peer Evaluation of
       Presentations    : 5% 
    Class Participation : 15%
For graduate students, the grades will be calculated based on: 
    Homework              : 20% 
    Detector Presentation : 20%
    Research Paper        : 30% 
    Paper Presentation    : 10% 
    Peer Evaluation of
       Presentations      : 5% 
    Class Participation   : 15%
Letter grades will be determined from the numerical grades using: 
               A  92-100%    A-  88-92
   B+  84-88   B  80-84      B-  76-80
   C+  72-76   C  68-72      C-  64-68
   D+  60-64   D  55-60      D-  50-55
   F  < 50

Research Paper:

The research paper will be a short (approx. 1500 words) review of a recent publication in the particle and nuclear physics literature. It should put the paper into broader context, based on the ideas and concepts that will be presented in this course, and it must include appropriate citations. Selection of the publication to use for your research paper will be done in consultation with the instructor, and should be done by Thurs. Nov. 17.

Research Paper Presentation:

You will present to the class a short (15 minute) talk, in the style of a contributed talk at an APS meeting, outlining your research paper, and you will be expected to answer questions from the class. The evaluation will be based on the instructor's assessment, which will be informed by peer evaluations (see below).

Research Presentation Peer Evaluations:

You will be required to provide thoughtful and constructive peer-evaluation of each of your classmates presentations (a rubric will be provided). The quality of your peer evalutions will be assessed by the instructor.

Homework:

Homework assignments will be posted on Blackboard.

You can't properly learn physics just by listening to a lecture or watching someone else use it. You've got to do it yourself. To get good at it, you must practice. Expect to have one homework assignment roughly every two weeks. You may work problems with others (but not copy each other's work!), and all students must turn in their own solution set.

For full credit, assignments must be turned in on their due date, which will almost always be on a Monday. Late assignments will be accepted until the Friday of that week, but the grade will be reduced by 50%. Graduate students will typically have one or two additional questions assigned for each homework assignment. v

Class Participation:

There will be assigned reading for almost every class. For many classes, you will be asked to prepare something for class based on the reading example: you might be asked to come up with a question that was prompted by the material, which we might discuss in class. The class participation grade will be based on a) attendance, b) preparation for class, and c) level of engagement and participation in in-class discussions. If you need to miss a class, please contact me in advance, if at all possible.

Important Dates:

  Last day of Add/Drop:    Mon. Sept. 12
  Last day for Withdrawl:  Mon. Oct. 31
  Research Paper due:      Tue. Dec. 20 9:00 AM

Electronic Access:

This syllabus, supplemental materials, and homework solutions will be posted on BlackBoard, accessible via myWM. Homework assignments and readings will be announced in class. I'll try to answer any email promptly, but please don't expect a reply after 9:00 pm.

Accesibility:

William & Mary accommodates students with disabilities in accordance with federal laws and university policy. Any student who feels they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a learning, psychiatric, physical, or chronic health diagnosis should contact Student Accessibility Services staff at 757-221-2512 or at sas@wm.edu to determine if accommodations are warranted and to obtain an official letter of accommodation. For more information, please see www.wm.edu/sas.

http://physics.wm.edu/~armd/P404.html
Dept. of Physics
William and Mary
armd@jlab.org
last updated: Aug 30 2022