PHY-30023: Particles, Accelerators and Reactor Physics

School of Physical and Geographical Sciences

PHY-30023

Particles, Accelerators and Reactor Physics

Co-ordinator:

Dr Dean McLaughlin Room: LJ1.49, Tel:34113

Teaching Team:

Mrs Patricia Pointon

Lecture Time:

See Timetable...

Level:

Credits:

Study Hours:

150

School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for

Astrophysics Dual Honours (Level 3)
Astrophysics Major (Level 3)
Astrophysics Minor (Level 3)
Physics Dual Honours (Level 3)
Physics Major (Level 3)
Physics Minor (Level 3)

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Prerequisites

Successful completion of Level 2 Physics or Astrophysics

Barred Combinations

None

Description

This module covers a range of topics in elementary particle physics, including the ingredients and the physical structure of the Standard Model; lepton phenomenology and neutrino physics; the quark model for the internal structures of baryons and mesons; experimental evidence for quarks; and aspects of quantum chromodynamics and electroweak unification. The module also gives an introduction to the physics and the operation of particle accelerators (both linear and circular) and nuclear reactors (especially thermal fission reactors). It builds upon some fundamentals of special relativity and quantum mechanics, and elements of nuclear physics and particle phenomenology, that all Physics and Astrophysics students will have in common from their core studies at Levels 1 and 2.

Aims

To gain a good working knowledge of the fundamentals of particle physics, particle accelerators and nuclear reactors.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Detail the elementary particles, fundamental forces, symmetries and conservation laws of the Standard Model, and apply these to analyse particle reactions and decays. will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Use the quark model, isospin formalism and basic quantum mechanics to classify hadrons, determine their internal structures and explain their properties. will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Employ special relativity and quantum mechanics to calculate and analyse a range of physical phenomena, processes and experiments involving elementary and subatomic particles. will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Describe and apply some of the key ideas, empirical foundations and predictions of quantum theories for the strong and electroweak forces. will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Derive and use equations to calculate the relativistic and non-relativistic dynamics of particles and beams in linear and circular accelerators and colliders. will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Compare and contrast the operation and design principles, advantages and limitations of the main types of particle accelerators. will be achieved by assessments: 1,3
Explain neutron-induced fission and the neutron cycle in thermal fission reactors, and derive and apply basic equations governing reactor operation. will be achieved by assessments: 1
Research and report at a third-year undergraduate level on the physics of an application or an operational aspect of particle accelerators or nuclear reactors. will be achieved by assessments: 3

Study hours

24 hours lectures
12 hours tutorials
2 hours end-of-module examination
40 hours assessments (three problem sheets and one essay)
72 hours private study

Description of Module Assessment

001: 2 Hour Unseen Exam weighted 80% (min pass mark of 30)

Unseen 2 hour examination
Students should answer 3 questions out of 5.

002: Exercise weighted 10%

2 problem sheets

003: Essay weighted 10%

1000 word essay

Version: (1.06B) Updated: 02/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.