Physics 625  -  Nuclear Physics

Homepage and Syllabus

(Texas A&M University, Fall 2014)



   Announcements (updated regularly)
        Lectures

    Mon+Wed+Fri  01:50-02:40pm
    Room:  MPHY-107
     (1st class:  Mon Sept 01,   last class:  Mon Dec 08,
       no classes on Nov 27+28 due to Thanksgiving holiday)
    Last day to drop without record: Sept 05
    Last day to Q-drop: Nov 21


       Course Instructor
   
Dr. Ralf Rapp
   Office        : Cyclotron Institute, Room CYCL-335

   Office-Hrs : Mon 3-4pm, Tue 2-3pm, Thu 11-12noon and by appointment
   Phone        : 845-1411 (ext. 226)
   E-mail       : rapp@comp.tamu.edu

      Teaching Assistant (Homework Grader)
   tba  
   email  : tba@physics.tamu.edu
   Phone:  as announced in class
   Consultation concerning homework: by appointment
 

       Recommended Material and Mandatory Prerequisite
     1.)  TEXTBOOK:
           The first half of the course will be largely based on the books
           "Theoretical Nuclear and Subnuclear Physics" (2. edition),
             by J.D. Walecka, World Scientific, Imperial College Press;
          "Theoretical Nuclear Physics",
             by A. de Shalit and H. Feshbach. John Wiley and Sons (New York 1976);
           
the second half of the course will also draw material from
           
"Quarks and Leptons",
             by F. Halzen and A.D. Martin, John Wiley & Sons (New York 1984);

           "The QCD Vacuum, Hadrons and Superdense Matter" (2. edition),
             by E.V. Shuryak, World Scientific Lecture Notes in Physics, Vol. 71 (2004)
         

      2.)  PREREQUISITES:

             - PHYS 606 (Quantum Mechanics) or equivalent


         

         Scope, Objective and Learning Outcome
    The objective of this course is to give an introduction, overview and advanced discussion on several topics
    in modern nuclear physics, including nuclear structure, hadron structure and Quark-Gluon Plasma.
    The SYLLABUS for the lectures can be found here.
  
 Upon successful completion of this course, students will have a basic knowledge of strong-interaction physics
    and the application of many-body techniques therein. They will be able to tackle typical problems in the above
    areas, realize connections to related areas (such as condensed matter physics), and benefit toward conducting
    research in nuclear physics.

       Course Grade
     
  The total course grade is decomposed as follows:

 

        Notes on Lectures
    Attendance in the lectures, as well as taking notes of the material presented, is mandatory;
    the homework (HW) and final exam will be closely related to what has been discussed in class.
    Furthermore, you are responsible for all announcements made
in class (including the regular
    HW assignments).


     Note on Homework
    For the approximately bi-weekly assignment of homework problems  click here.
   Once a homework problem set is assigned (via paper hand-out in class), it will usually be due at the
   beginning of the fourth subsequent class (e.g. if assigned on Mon, it is due on Wed the following week).
   Late hand-in will be penalized by subtracting 25% of the score per day late.

   Cooperative work and discussions are encouraged, but every student must generate and hand in his/her
   individual solution set by the due date. Questions can be addressed to your course
instructor who will be
   happy to help you (preferably during, but not restricted to, office hours)
.

        Strategy
  To pass the course, you will have to keep up with the material of the course by attending the lectures
  and thoroughly working
through the homework assignments. The course material subsequently builds on
  earlier chapters.

 

       AGGIE Honor Code
  An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do, see also http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu
  Any type of cheating (e.g., copying homework or during the final exam) is  strictly prohibited and will be
  seriously penalized.

 
 
       ADA  Statement
  The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides
  comprehensive civil rights
protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this
  legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that
  provides for reasonable accommodation of their
disabilities. If you believe you have a disability
  requiring an
accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students
  with Disabilities, in Room B118 Cain Hall or
  call 845-1637; for more info see also here.
  Department of Student Life, SSD, will review your concerns and determine, with you, what
  accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and
documentation concerning
  disability is kept confidential.