Nuclear Physics – This course provides an introduction to the topic of nuclear physics. It will explore what the mass of a nucleus reveals about the strong interaction; examine how the nuclear size and shape is measured, and the key decay mechanisms; alpha, beta and gamma decay and the associated selection rules and Q-values (energy release). The role of nuclear reactions in the synthesis of the elements will be described, including: proton burning, CNO cycle, rp-process, s-process and r-process. The process of energy generation using nuclear fusion and fission will be described together with medical applications and detection of nuclear radiation. Neutrino Physics – The course provides an introduction to neutrino physics and related issues. It starts with a revision of the foundations of the Standard Model of particle physics (kinematics, particles and forces, conserved quantum numbers). It describes key experiments that demonstrated the existence of the three lepton generations and the finite neutrino mass. The principles and processes involved in the neutrino detection are reviewed. A number of neutrino detection techniques (including water Cherenkov, radiochemical and tracking calorimeter detectors) are discussed. The phenomenon of neutrino mixing and oscillations is introduced. Recent experiments with atmospheric, solar, accelerator and reactor neutrinos and the future developments in the field are presented. |