Nuclear physics and elementary particles

Nuclear physics and elementary particles
Master PhysiqueParcours Physics of Quantum and Soft Condensed Matter

Catalogue2025-2026

Description

This is a two-part course presenting advanced concepts in particle physics and nuclear physics.

Compétences visées

•    Applying knowledge in physics;

•    Apply methods from mathematics and digital technology;

•    Produce a critical analysis, with hindsight and perspective;

•    Interact with colleagues in physics and other disciplines;

•    Communicate in writing and orally, including in English.

Syllabus

I-Principle of special relativity and its consequences for the description of space-time and its transformations, mass-energy equivalence.

II-Nuclear physics

  1. How to observe subatomic objects - general notions - radii measurements.
  2. On the nuclear interaction - Nuclear potential - Binding energies
  3. Nuclear models
    1. Fermi gas – astrophysics applications
    2. Shell-model and effective interactions
    3. Qualitative notions on the nucleon-nucleon interaction   
    4. Application ‘bubble nuclei'
    5. Collective modes in nuclei
  4. Electomagnetic and weak interactions at play in the nucleus

III-Particle physics

  1. Introduction to particle physics. Short historical introduction, Particle and interaction zoology.
  2. Special Relativity applied to particle physics. Collisions.
  3. Symmetries. Discrete and continuous symmetries in particle physics. CPT symmetries. Conservation laws. CP violation. neutrino oscillations
  4. Interactions. Cross-section & luminosity. Lifetime & Resonances. Application of relativistic Fermi Golden's rule and phase space computation.
  5. Pedestrian introduction to Feynman diagrams.
  6. The quark model. Some group theory for particle physics.

Contacts

Responsable pédagogique

MCC

Les épreuves indiquées respectent et appliquent le règlement de votre formation, disponible dans l'onglet Documents de la description de la formation.

Régime d'évaluation
CT (Contrôle terminal, mêlé de contrôle continu)
Coefficient
1.0

Évaluation initiale / Session principale - Épreuves

LibelléType d'évaluationNature de l'épreuveDurée (en minutes)Coéfficient de l'épreuveNote éliminatoire de l'épreuveNote reportée en session 2
Elementary particles
CTET900.50
Nuclear physics
CTET900.50

Seconde chance / Session de rattrapage - Épreuves

LibelléType d'évaluationNature de l'épreuveDurée (en minutes)Coéfficient de l'épreuveNote éliminatoire de l'épreuve
Elementary particles
CTET900.50
Nuclear physics
CTET900.50