58勛圖

PH4041 Atomic, Nuclear, and Particle Physics

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

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Module description

The aim of this module is to describe in terms of appropriate models, the structure and properties of the atom, including its nucleus, the classification of fundamental particles and the means by which they interact. The syllabus includes: electron cloud model of an atom, electron spin and magnetic moment, spin-orbit interactions, revision of single-electron atom and brief qualitative extension to multi-electron atoms, selection rules and line intensities for electric-dipole transitions; nuclear sizes, binding energy, properties of the strong nuclear force; radioactivity, the semi-empirical mass formula; nuclear stability, the shell model, magic numbers; energetics of beta-decay, 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.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS PH2011 AND PASS PH3062 AND PASS PH2012 AND PASS MT2501 AND PASS MT2503 AND ( PASS PH3081 OR PASS PH3082 ) OR ( PASS MT2506 AND PASS MT2507 ) AND PASS PH3061

Anti-requisites

YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU TAKE PH4040

Assessment pattern

2-hour Written Examination = 95%, Coursework = 5%

Re-assessment

Oral Re-assessment, capped at grade 7

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3 lectures or tutorials

Scheduled learning hours

30

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

Guided independent study hours

120

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • Explain the electronic structure of alkali atoms. Explain aspects of atom-light interactions such as selection rules in optical transitions.
  • Explain the effect of magnetic interactions on electronic energy levels, including spin-orbit coupling and the Zeeman effect.
  • 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/