This book is intended to give a clear and concise introductory account of the basic ideas underlying nuclear and elementary particle physics. The attempt throughout is to convey a sound physical understanding of the structures and processes encountered. It assumes some knowledge of elementary quantum mechanics, particularly the treatment of angular momentum, and the rudiments of special relativity. In addition to 'standard' calculations based on this knowledge, frequent use is made of 'order-of-magnitude' and 'dimensional' arguments. In this way it has been possible to give some discussion of quite advanced topics and recent developments. Although reference is made from time to time to the apparatus of nuclear and particle physics no technical detail is given. My basic hope is that students using this book will acquire a sound understand ing of what nuclear and particle physics is about and will wish to learn more. I am indebted to Dr David Bailin and various (nameless) referees for penetrating and helpful comments on parts of the text.
This book is intended to give a clear and concise introductory account of the basic ideas underlying nuclear and elementary particle physics. The attempt throughout is to convey a sound physical understanding of the structures and processes encountered. It assumes some knowledge of elementary quantum mechanics, particularly the treatment of angular momentum, and the rudiments of special relativity. In addition to 'standard' calculations based on this knowledge, frequent use is made of 'order-of-magnitude' and 'dimensional' arguments. In this way it has been possible to give some discussion of quite advanced topics and recent developments. Although reference is made from time to time to the apparatus of nuclear and particle physics no technical detail is given. My basic hope is that students using this book will acquire a sound understand ing of what nuclear and particle physics is about and will wish to learn more. I am indebted to Dr David Bailin and various (nameless) referees for penetrating and helpful comments on parts of the text.
1 The nuclear atom.- 1.1 Properties of atoms.- 1.2 Radioactivity.- 1.3 Atomic structure and the nucleus.- 1.4 Nuclear constituents.- 2 General properties of the nucleus.- 2.1 Nuclear sizes.- 2.2 Nuclear mass and binding energy.- 2.3 Nuclear stability.- 2.4 Ground and excited states of nuclei.- 2.5 Nuclear spin.- 2.6 Nuclear parity.- 2.7 Nuclear electromagnetic moments.- 3 The internucleon potential.- 3.1 General form of the internucleon potential.- 3.2 The deuteron.- 3.3 Detailed form of the internucleon potential.- 3.4 Merson theory of the internucleon potential.- 4 Models of nuclear structure.- 4.1 The liquid drop model.- 4.2 The nuclear shell model.- 4.3 The collective model.- 4.4 Development of nuclear models.- 5 Nuclear reactions.- 5.1 Energetics.- 5.2 Nuclear reaction cross-section.- 5.3 The experimental approach to nuclear reactions.- 5.4 Nuclear reaction processes.- 5.5 Scattering and absorption.- 5.6 Coulomb excitation.- 5.7 Direct reactions.- 5.8 Compound nucleus reactions.-5.9 Heavy ion reactions.- 5.10 Fission.- 5.11 Fusion and stellar energy.- 5.12 Comment.- 6 Alpha, beta and gamma decay.- 6.1 Nuclear lifetimes and decay probabilities.- 6.2 Natural radioactivity.- 6.3 Alpha decay.- 6.4 Gamma decay.- 6.5 Beta decay.- 7 Elementary particles and their interactions.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Tables of elementary particles.- 7.3 Intrinsic particle properties and conservation laws.- 7.4 Conclusions.- 8 The strong interaction.- 8.1 Non-strange hadrons.- 8.2 The quark structure of hadrons.- 8.3 Additional quarks.- 8.4 The quark-quark interaction.- 9 The weak interaction and unification.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 The weak interaction.- 9.3 The electroweak interaction.- 9.4 CP violation.- 9.5 Grand unified theories (GUTs).- References.- Further reading.- Table of physical constants.- Problems.- Answers to problems.
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