FYS9515 – Nuclear Physics I
Course description
Course content
In this course, you learn about the statistical properties of atomic nuclei and models that describe these, and about different types of nuclear reactions that are used to study the atomic nucleus.?In the course, you will also get the "toolbox" you need to analyze experimental data and extract new knowledge about the nucleus. The course provides the basis for designing experiments and interpreting their results. The course combines theoretical introduction into these topics, numerical calculations, and hands-on data analysis.
Learning outcome
After completing this course, you:
- have knowledge of fundamental scattering theory, including the concepts of cross-sections, partial wave analysis, potential and resonant scattering, and the optical model.
- have an overview of different nuclear reaction mechanisms, including direct and compound reactions, and their application for experimental studies of nuclear structure.
- are able to use numerical codes to calculate fusion evaporation cross-sections, interpret the results and use the results to plan experiments.
- have knowledge of gamma decay, both discrete and statistical, transition probabilities, and the gamma strength function.
- have knowledge of statistical and thermodynamic models of the atomic nucleus such as the Fermi gas model, and how these describe gross properties of the nucleus, like the nuclear level density.
- will have hands-on experience in analyzing experimental data using the "Oslo method", to extract nuclear level densities and gamma strength functions.?
Admission to the course
PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through?Studentweb.
If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.
PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must?apply for a position as a visiting student?within a given deadline.
Recommended previous knowledge
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with FYS4515 – Nuclear Physics I.
- 5 credits overlap with FYS4515A – Nuclear Reactions.
- 5 credits overlap with FYS9515A – Nuclear Reactions.
- 5 credits overlap with FYS4515B – Statistical Properties of Atomic Nuclei.
- 5 credits overlap with FYS9515B – Statistical Properties of Atomic Nuclei.
Teaching
The course runs over a whole semester with 6 hours of teaching each week. The teaching consists of lectures and hands-on work. There will be a hands-on part where the students themselves will analyze experimental data.
This course has one mandatory assignment (either a written submission or a seminar lecture) midway through the semester, which must be approved before you can take the final exam. The course also includes a written project assignment which is part of the curriculum for the final exam. Ph.D. candidates?will be given a more comprehensive?project assignment than master students, which requires a deeper understanding of the curriculum and more programming.
Examination
- Final oral exam which counts 100 % towards the final grade.
This course has a mandatory assignment?midway through the semester that must be approved before you can take?the final exam. Ph.D. candidates will be given a more challenging and comprehensive mandatory assignment than master students.
It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses: FYS4515 – Nuclear Physics I
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about?the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a?postponed exam?at the beginning of the next semester.
New examinations?are offered at the beginning of the next semester for students who do not successfully complete the exam during the previous semester.
We do not offer a re-scheduled exam for students who withdraw during the exam.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.