Physics 6805 Topics in Nuclear Physics
Autumn, 2017

Welcome to the Physics 6805 Topics in Nuclear Physics home page!
URL: http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~ntg/6805/nuclear.php and Piazza home page for 6805
The course information is available here (see also Course description and info) plus lots of supplementary info. Please check this page regularly.

Recent changes to this page:

Contents


Class meetings

The following table will be filled in with materials and references as we proceed. The current links --- shown in light green --- have "before" links that should be read or watched before class, "in-class" materials that we will use in our two-hour meeting, and "extra" references that you can use to follow up, depending on your interest.

Overview: Overarching questions for nuclear physics
class dates to do topics and links
22/23-Aug-2017 before Exploring the Heart of Matter [pp.9-29]; Overview of Piazza Q&A platform; when reading the "Exploring" excerpts, jot down two or three questions to put into Piazza during class.
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 1
Links: 6805 Piazza home (go to Q&A);
Slides: overarching questions; key pictures for overview [pdf][web];
Video: Powers of Ten (video);
extra 2015 Long-Range Plan for Nuclear Science [pp.1-7]; "Scale of the Universe" [YouTube video] [interactive flash]; Unit Q nuclear size excerpt; (session summary notes added to in Piazza in Sessions folder after class, please review)
24/25-Aug-2017 before Exploring the Heart of Matter (video); 2013 NSAC report Executive Summary and Introduction [pp.1-7]; Powers of Ten (video);
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 1 (continued);
Slides: slides on diffraction and resolution [pdf][web]; elastic scattering from nuclei; key pictures for overview (cont.) [web];
extra Debate on number of fundamental dimensional constants; (session summary notes added to in Piazza in Sessions folder after class, please review)
Structure of atomic nuclei
class dates to do topics and links
29/30-Aug-2017 before video: Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle Explained; Exploring the Heart of Matter [pp.31-39]; Unit Q nuclear size excerpt; Post a new Piazza question about the Exploring the Heart of Matter reading or the uncertainty principle video or the nuclear size excerpt or something from the last class.
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 2;
Slides and figures: slides from Decadal Survey reading [pdf]; proton-nucleus elastic scattering figure; slides on nuclear sizes;
Link: periodic table of elements [flash] [Ptable];
Mathematica notebook: fitting_a_nonlinear_function_to_data.nb;
PhET applet: Rutherford scattering PhET applet;
extra excerpt on global properties of nuclei; excerpt on basic concepts in nuclear physics; (session summary notes added to in Piazza in Sessions folder after class, please review)
31-Aug/01/05-Sep-2017 before slides on nuclear sizes; Atomic energy level diagrams (video)
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 2 (continued);
Slides and figures: nuclear single-particle potential and levels (slides); liquid drop model cartoon; Nuclear Masses 1 (slides); Beta Decay 1 (slides);
PhET applets: PhET Quantum Bound States; atomic orbital shapes and filling order; Rutherford scattering PhET applet;
Video: Rare Isotope Rap;
extra excerpt on global properties of nuclei; excerpt on basic concepts in nuclear physics;
06/07/08-Sep-2017 before Exploring the Heart of Matter [pp.39-56]; Post a new Piazza question about the Exploring the Heart of Matter reading or something from previous sessions.
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 3;
Slides and figures: slides from Decadal Survey reading 2 [pdf]; full_nuclear_level_scheme.png; r_process_path.png; Beta Decay 1 (slides); Beta Decay 2 (slides); Alpha Decay 1 (slides); Gamma Decay 1 (slides);
Mathematica notebooks: form_factor_fourier_transform.nb; semi_empirical_mass_formula.nb;
Video: MSU FRIB Shielding Block Placement (video);
extra solving nuclei (slides); nuclear forces 1 (slides);
12/13-Sep-2017 before Exploring the Heart of Matter on Toward a Comprehensive Theory of Nuclei [pp.51-56] and on applications of radioisotopes [pp.150-159]; Post a new Piazza question about the Exploring the Heart of Matter reading or something from previous sessions.
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 3 (continued);
Slides and figures; r_process_path.png; slides from Decadal Survey reading 2 (cont.) [pdf]; Table of Nuclides: Decay Mode; α decay in short; Geiger counter slide; Decadal survey slides on PET scans; Nuclear Masses 1 (slides);
Video: Ununoctium;
Mathematica notebooks: fourier_scribble_mario_v2.nb,
extra Low Energy Nuclear Physics white paper (2015);
14/15-Sep-2017 before Exploring the Heart of Matter on Toward a Comprehensive Theory of Nuclei [pp.51-56]
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 4;
Links: Table of Nuclides: Decay Mode; alternative Table of Nuclides with abundances;
Slides: SNM and PNM energy vs. density; slides from Decadal Survey reading 2 (cont.) [pdf]; picture of superfluid vortices; Expanding in a basis (slides); Introductory slides on ab initio many-body calculations;
PhET simulations: Fourier: Making Waves, Quantum Bound States, Quantum Tunneling;
Mathematica notebooks: fourier_scribble_mario_v2.nb,
extra Summary slides on SEMF and nuclear matter; Furnstahl NNPSS 2012 lectures; expanding_two_square_well_wfs_in_ho.nb
Nuclear astrophysics
class dates to do topics and links
19/20-Sep-2017 before Exploring the Heart of Matter on Toward a Comprehensive Theory of Nuclei: Nuclear Astrophysics [pp.56-80]; xkcd Radiation Dose Chart; Post a new Piazza question about the Exploring the Heart of Matter reading or something from previous sessions.
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 4 (cont.);
Mathematica notebooks: timing_matrix_diagonalization.nb, exponential_matrix_lowest_eigenvalue.nb; fourier_series.nb;
Slides and webpages: household radioactive items; Decadal survey slides on Astrophysics;
extra radioactive Fiesta Ware; more on radioactive items; Wikipedia linear no-threshold model;
21/22-Sep-2017 before Decadal survey slides on Astrophysics; NY Times article on overreacting to radiation;
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 5;
ANS radiation dose calculator; Expanding in a basis (slides); Introductory slides on ab initio many-body calculations;
Mathematica notebooks: expanding_two_square_well_wfs_in_ho.nb, semi_empirical_mass_formula.nb;
PhET simulation: Quantum Bound States,
α decay in short;
extra arxiv:1509.06671 nuclear pasta; arxiv:1509.06561 EOS constraints;
26/27-Sep-2017 before Videos: Nucleosynthesis: The Formation of Elements in the Universe; The Exotic World of Neutron Stars; The Search for Gravitational Waves; Einstein's Messengers; Post a new Piazza question about the videos or something from previous sessions.
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 5 (cont.);
Slides: Decadal survey slides on Astrophysics; Exotic Nuclei (slides); 26Al decay scheme; r-process slides;
Videos: The Elements: Forged in Stars (3:42);
Slides: selected neutron star slides; pairing in nuclei;
extra heavy element nucleosynthesis; Creation of elements - Supernova in the lab (5:07);
28/29-Sep-03-Oct-2017 before Exploring the Heart of Matter on Toward a Comprehensive Theory of Nuclei: Exploring Quark-Gluon Plasma [first part, pp.80-91];
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 6;
thermodynamic identity;
Video: SNS at ORNL;
Slides: quantum tunneling and Gamow peak; r-process slides;
PhET simulation: Quantum Tunneling;
Mathematica notebook: Part 1 of Gamow peak exploration;
extra ESS - Science for Society;
Exploring quark-gluon plasma
class dates to do topics and links
04/05-Oct-2017 before Exploring the Heart of Matter on Toward a Comprehensive Theory of Nuclei: Exploring Quark-Gluon Plasma [second part, pp.91-104];
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 7;
Videos: Virtual tour of RHIC; Breakthrough (RHIC propaganda :); RHIC: The Perfect Liquid;
Slides: Decadal survey slides on QGP I;
extra Decadal survey slides on QGP II;
06/10-Oct-2017 before Video: Hot Quark Soup Produced at RHIC;
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 7 (cont.);
Video: Hydrodynamic Simulations;
Slides: Decadal survey slides on QGP I; Decadal survey overview slides; QGP slides 1;
extra
11-Oct-2017 before Planning 2015 NSAC Long Range Plan; Hot QCD White Paper, pages 10-21 and 47-49;
in-class NSAC agenda; Program for Nuclear Structure and Nuclear Astrophysics meetings;
Slides:
Decadal survey slides on QGP I (cont.); RHIC timescales; Decadal survey slides on QGP II; QGP slides 1 (cont.);
Video: Hydrodynamic Simulations;
Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 8;
Mathematica notebook: Thermal number distributions;
extra
12/13-Oct-2017 before
in-class No class on Thursday/Friday, October 12/13 (Autumn break).
extra "What could we learn from quantum gravity"
17/18-Oct-2017 before Due Oct. 19: Town Meeting slide in Piazza note;
in-class 2015 NSAC Long Range Plan;
Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 8 (cont.);
Slides: 2015 NSAC LRP slides I; QGP slides 1 (cont.); Energy density displayed; Bag model of hadrons;
extra
19/20-Oct-2017 before Exploring the Heart of Matter on The Strong Force and the Internal Structure of Neutrons and Protons [pp.104-117; 129-130] Post a new Piazza question about the Exploring the Heart of Matter reading or something from previous sessions.
in-class Videos: Empty Space is NOT Empty; Your Mass is NOT From the Higgs Boson; visualizations of QCD;
Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 8 (cont.); 1094 Activities 9;
Slides: Ising model: magnetic moments; 2015 NSAC LRP slides I; QGP slides 1 (cont.); Bag model of hadrons;
Simulations: 2-D Ising model (html5); 2-D Ising model (js);
extra Jefferson Lab Virtual Tour; Quarks and leptons for beginners; The Quark Song;
Strong force and internal structure of hadrons
class dates to do topics and links
24/25-Oct-2017 before Exploring the Heart of Matter on The Strong Force and the Internal Structure of Neutrons and Protons [pp.117-132] Post a new Piazza question about the Exploring the Heart of Matter reading or something from previous sessions.
in-class Videos: visualizations of QCD; The evolution of event displays; Di-Jet collision event (ATLAS); Jets of Particles (ATLAS); Jefferson Lab Virtual Tour;
Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 9 (cont.); 1094 Activities 10;
Slides: Bag model of hadrons; QCD lattice phase transitions 1; QGP slides 1 (cont.); 2015 NSAC LRP slides I;
Simulations: 2-D Ising model (js);
extra Another Quark Song;
26/27-Oct-2017 before Strong Interaction videos [#1a] [#1b];
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 10;
Slides: QCD mass slides; animated neutron;
Mathematica notebook: Discretization games;
Simulations: 2-D Ising model (html5); 2-D Ising model (js);
extra notes on the Ising model; subatomic particle plush toys;
31-Oct/01-Nov-2017 before Due Friday: Town Meeting slide with answers in Piazza note;
in-class Activity sheets: 1094 Activities 10 (cont.); 1094 Activities 11;
Slides: Decadal survey slides on the strong force 1; QCD vacuum polarization and spectrum slides; Sample paths;
Mathematica notebooks: Discretization games; Quantum Mechanics with Path Integrals, Part 1;
extra Lattice QCD for Novices; "The Path Integral Formulation of Your Life";
02/03-Nov-2017 before Due: Finished Town Meeting slide with answers in Piazza note;
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 10 (cont.); 1094 Activities 11;
Slides: QCD vacuum polarization and spectrum slides; Dielectric
Mathematica notebook: Quantum Mechanics with Path Integrals, Part 1;
Simulation: PhET Quantum Bound States;
extra Lattice QCD for Novices; "The Path Integral Formulation of Your Life";
07/08/09-Nov-2017 before Exploring the Heart of Matter on Fundamental Symmetries [pp.22-24 and 132-148]
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 11 (cont.); 1094 Activities 12;
Slides: Decadal survey slides on the strong force 1; QCD vacuum polarization and spectrum slides; Sample paths; Not-so-random-numbers slide;
Mathematica notebook: Quantum Mechanics with Path Integrals, Part 1; Quantum Mechanics with Path Integrals, Part 2;
extra Lattice QCD for Novices;
Fundamental symmetries and neutrinos
class dates to do topics and links
10-Nov-2017 before
in-class No class on Friday, November 10 (Veteran's Day).
extra
14/15/16-Nov-2017 before Neutrino Pamphlet; Post a new Piazza question about the neutrino reading.
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 12 (cont.); 1094 Activities 13;
Slides: Beta Decay 3; Neutrinos 1;
extra One-minute video: What is a neutrino?
17/21-Nov-2017 before Due (11/21): QCD Town Meeting slide in Piazza note with questions; The Chameleons of Space from nobelprize.org
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 13 (cont.); 1094 Activities 14;
Slides: Neutrinos 2;
extra Video: The KATRIN experiment
28/29/30-Nov-2017 before Exploring the Heart of Matter on Fundamental Symmetries [pp.22-24 and 132-148]
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 13 (cont.); 1094 Activities 14 (cont.);
Video: Nuclear reactor pulse compilation (Cherenkov radiation!);
PhET applet: PhET Quantum Bound States;
Slides: Decadal survey slides on neutrinos; Neutrinos 2; Neutrinos 3; number of neutrinos;
extra
Nuclear science going forward (plus applications)
class dates to do topics and links
01-Dec-2017 before Exploring the Heart of Matter on Societal Applications and Benefits [pp.158-181, 209-212, and 227-229];
Post a new Piazza question about the Exploring the Heart of Matter reading on applications.
in-class Slides: Neutrinos 3; Decadal study slides on applications 2;
extra D. Ireland introduction at ISNET-3; W. Nazarewicz summary at ISNET-3; Furnstahl talk at ISNET-3;
05/06-Dec-2017 before Post a new Piazza question about the Exploring the Heart of Matter reading on applications.
Due (12/12): QCD Town Meeting slide in Piazza note with answers;
in-class Activity sheet: 1094 Activities 15;
Slides: Basics of Bayesian statistics; Applications of Bayesian statistics;
Mathematica notebook: Bayesian Games, Part 1;
extra Bayes in the Sky; Constrained curve fitting; Statistics chapter from Particle Data Group;

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Assignments

Piazza pages on Long Range Plan slides

The Piazza home page for 6805 is https://piazza.com/osu/autumn2015/physics6805/home. We'll use Piazza to ask and answer questions as a class throughout the semester. The first of the following individual assignments will be due about halfway through the semester and the second one at the end.

  1. Create a Piazza "note" on a slide from the Nuclear Structure and Nuclear Astrophysics Town Meeting from 2014. This was part of the Long Range Plan (LRP) exercise conducted in 2014-2015 that resulted in the 2015 Long Range Plan for Nuclear Science entitled Reaching for the Horizon. Choose from the presentations here. Choose one slide, cut-and-paste into Piazza. Explain all of the features --- what you would need to understand, as we've been doing in class. This is an iterative process: put in the slide, start to devise explanations of what is on the slide, highlight your questions/confusions, I will comment, you modify, repeat until convergence. Due date for final version Friday, November 3, but you need to get your slide in place and a first pass (which may just be placeholder questions) by the end of the day on Thursday, October 19. Answers for your questions are due (in Piazza) by November 3.
  2. Create a Piazza "note" on a slide from the QCD Town Meeting from 2014. This was part of the Long Range Plan (LRP) exercise conducted over the last 18 months. Choose from the presentations here (there is a lot to choose from, including both "Hot QCD" and "Hadron QCD"). Choose one slide, cut-and-paste into Piazza. Explain all of the features --- what you would need to understand, as we've been doing in class. This is an iterative process: put in the slide, start to devise explanations of what is on the slide, highlight your questions/confusions, I will comment, you modify, repeat until convergence. Due date for the final version will be Tuesday, December 12, but you need to get your slide in place and a first pass (which may just be placeholder questions) by Tuesday, November 21.

Handouts

PDF Copies of Handouts

Date revisedHandoutComments
28-Aug-2015 Dimensional Analysis Summary of the standard procedure, with an example, of doing systematic dimensional analysis with mass, length, and time units.
28-Aug-2015 Dimensional Analysis for Hydrogen-Like Atoms Standard procedure of doing systematic dimensional analysis with mass, length, and time units applied to hydrogen-like atoms to estimate the characteristic radius and energy.

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Resources

Online references

Videos on topics in quantum mechanics and nuclear physics (and more)

Quantum or nuclear physics simulations and other software

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Nuclear Experimental Facilities

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Mathematica Notebooks

Additional notebooks used in activities are linked in particular Class Meetings.

On some machines clicking the link will start Mathematica directly. If not, "right click" to save the file and then read it into Mathematica separately.

Date OutNotebookComments
09/06/14 Square well energies Notebook that solves the transcendental equation to find bound-state energies for a specified square well potential.
09/06/14 Square well phase shifts Notebook that solves the variable phase approach differential equations to find phase shifts for a specified square well potential.

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Your comments and suggestions are appreciated.
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Last modified: 01:37 pm, October 16, 2021.
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