58勛圖

PH4040 Nuclear and Particle Physics with Advanced Skills

Academic year

2026 to 2027 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Available only to students on the Physics and Philosophy, Physics and Mathematics, Theoretical Physics and Mathematics programmes.

Module description

The first aim of this module is to describe in terms of appropriate models, the structure and properties of the atomic nucleus, the classification of fundamental particles and the means by which they interact. The syllabus includes: nuclear sizes, binding energy, spin dependence of the strong nuclear force; radioactivity, the semi-empirical mass formula; nuclear stability, the shell model, magic numbers; spin-orbit coupling; energetics of betadecay, alpha-decay and spontaneous fission; nuclear reactions, resonances; fission; electroweak and colour interactions, classification of particles as intermediate bosons, leptons or hadrons. Standard model of leptons and quarks, and ideas that go beyond the standard model. The second aim of this module is to develop research skills, and oral and written communication skills in science. Participants will be given training in the use of bibliographic databases, use of the scientific literature, oral and written communication skills, and will develop these skills through structured assignments.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS PH3061 AND PASS PH3062

Anti-requisites

YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU TAKE PH3014 OR TAKE PH4041

Assessment pattern

2-hour Written Examination = 60%, Coursework = 40%

Re-assessment

Oral Re-assessment, capped at grade 7

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3 x lectures (x 7 weeks) plus 6 further lectures, 4 tutorials, 1 workshop and 2 hours of giving and evaluating tasks.

Scheduled learning hours

34

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

116

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Search the scientific literature in an effective way, and find and analyse relevant information.
  • Communicate complicated scientific topics in oral and written formats.
  • Explain how nuclear sizes can be determined via scattering experiments.
  • Use the liquid drop, Fermi gas and shell models of the nucleus to determine nuclear properties. Compare and contrast the assumptions of these models.
  • Apply relativistic kinematics to calculate kinematic quantities in reactions and decays, and deduce information from particle resonances.
  • Describe interactions arising from fundamental forces in terms of Feynman diagrams and conservation laws. Describe properties of the strong and weak interactions.

Additional information from school

For guidance on AS and PH modules please consult the School Handbook at /physics-astronomy/students/ug/timetables-handbooks/