Basic Concepts of Nuclear Physics

By Jagadish B. Garg

book provides a clear and concise discussion of basic concepts of nuclear physics to be covered in a one semester course in nuclear physics offered in colleges and universities. This course can be taken by physics and nuclear engineering seniors and graduate students, who have taken one semester of quantum mechanics and a course in math. Methods of physics. This book begins with the general properties of nuclei. In chapters 2 and 3 it discusses the nature of nuclear force as learned from the properties of deuteron and from the two body interactions of (n, n ), (n, p) and (p, p) pairs. In chapter 4 it gives discussion of the nuclear structure in terms of different nuclear models such as shell, collective vibration and rotation, unified and liquid drop. The models are applicable in different mass regions of nuclei. In chapter 5, discussion is given about \, and - ray modes of decay of unstable nuclei. Chapter 6 deals with different types of nuclear reactions induced by n, p, d, t, \- particles etc. These reactions are compound nucleus formation, direct reactions, such as stripping, knock out, pick up reactions, photonuclear reactions, nuclear fission and nuclear fusion etc. Chapter 7 gives a brief discussion of application of nuclear physics to other fields such as bio medical, nuclear energy, industry, crime detection and astrophysics. In chapter 8, I have given conceptual problems related to each chapter. The main feature of this book is that it gives a coherent treatment of each topic of nuclear physics in the proper order.


Book Review

Basic concepts of nuclear physics written by Jagadish B. Garg, Physics Professor, State University at Albany is a timely book. To my knowledge no other text book on this subject had been published in recent years. This book is written in a clear, concise and orderly fashion.

The book begins with a discussion of the discovery of nucleus by Lord Rutherford and then describes all the basic properties of nuclei. In chapters 2and 3, the author discusses the nucleon nucleon force determined by properties of deuterons and from interaction of pairs of nucleons. In chapter 4, he discusses nuclear structure as described by shell, collective rotation, vibration, unified and liquid drop models. In chapter 5, he discusses various nuclear modes such as alpha, beta and gamma decay of unstable nuclei, In chapter 6, he discusses nuclear reactions induced by neutrons, protons, deuterons, He 3, He 4 and triton particles, photo nuclear reactions, nuclear fission and fusion. Theoretical treatment of these topics is appropriate for an introductory survey course in nuclear physics. Chapter 7 gives a brief discussion of application of nuclear physics to nuclear energy, to medical field such as diagnostic and treatment of human diseases, application to astro-physics, crime detection and determination of pollution in the environment The author is internationally known for his extensive research on many topics of nuclear physics.

The author should be complimented for a clear and concise discussion of all important topics of nuclear physics. This book is suitable for a one semester survey course in nuclear physics to be given in physics and nuclear engineering departments. I have taught introductory course in nuclear physics at Renssaeler Polytecnique Institute for many years and would have adopted this book if it was then available. I would recommend this book to other professors teaching an introductory survey course on nuclear physics.

- Norman Francis,
Adjunct Professor at RPI(retired)
Fellow of American Nuclear Society

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 25, 2009
• ISBN: 9781462824472

Jagadish B. Garg

Jagadish B. Garg is professor of physics at the N Y state university of Albany, where he teaches undergraduate courses in general physics, contemporary astronomy and graduate level course in nuclear physics. For the past 40 years or so, he has done extensive research in neutron induced nuclear reactions in many nuclei all across the periodic table. This research was carried out using Columbia university’s Nevis cyclotron , electron linear accelerator at Oak Ridge national laboratory and high intensity fast breeder reactor at Brookhaven national laboratory. In 1970 he established a nuclear research program at the NY state University at Albany with the Dynamitron accelerator. He has published more than 100 research papers. In 1971 he organized an international conference on the statistical properties of nuclei in Albany and edited its proceedings, which was published by the Plenum press. In 1964 He was elected Fellow of the American Physical society and in 1961 fellow of the British physical society.

Book preview

Copyright © 2009 by Jagadish B. Garg.

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Contents

PREFACE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

AUTHOR’S REFERENCES

OTHER PUBLISHED BOOKS

ON THE TOPIC OF NUCLEAR PHYSICS.

TABLE OF ATOMIC MASSES, ABUNDANCES AND

HALF-LIFE OF DECAY

PREFACE

Nuclear physics is a core subject in physics, and it is quite extensive in its content and importance. This is due to extensive research, which had been carried out by many thousands of scientists all across the world since the discovery of nucleus by Rutherford in 1911 and the vigorous research activity in this field after the discovery of nuclear fission in 1938. This discovery culminated in the making of the atom bomb and later in the pursuit of peaceful uses of nuclear energy all around the world.

The field of nuclear physics was developed by scientists conducting numerous experiments to observe certain facts and later the efforts of scientists to explain these facts by visualization and interpretation with the help of mathematical tools and in particular with the use of quantum mechanics.

To promote the advancement of the field of nuclear physics, U.S. government established various laboratories such as Brookhaven National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Los Alamos National Research Laboratory. Scientists of many universities conducted research in these laboratories and made important contribution to the field of nuclear physics.

As a consequence, research in the field of nuclear physics was pursued vigorously, and it became the dominant field of research and teaching throughout the world during the years 1950-1985.

At the same time for the pursuit of nuclear energy, many nuclear reactors were installed. A new field of nuclear engineering was established in many universities. Unfortunately, due to few nuclear accidents such as one at Chernobyl in USSR and the other at a three-mile reactor in Pennsylvania in this country, this has raised concerns among the politicians as well as the general public about the safety of nuclear reactors. Consequently, no new reactors were built in the country in the past thirty years. Over the years, the funds for research in the field of nuclear physics became scarce, and it affected the teaching and research of nuclear physics around the world.

Many universities, instead of requiring a full-year course in nuclear physics by graduate students, opted to offer either one-semester survey course in nuclear physics or none for their PhD students pursuing other fields of physics.

Many excellent textbooks in nuclear physics were published during the years 1950-1975, and due to lack of demand for a textbook, many of these books are now out of print.

I have taught a one-semester survey course in nuclear physics for the past twenty years. While teaching this course, I felt the need for a textbook, which could cover the basic topics of nuclear physics in one semester. In recent years, some books have been published combining topics of nuclear physics with particle physics. The research in particle physics has greatly advanced, and many universities are now offering either one semester or a full-year course on this subject. I believe that it is not possible to cover the combined topics of nuclear and particle physics in a one-semester course. Therefore, I have not found such books suited for my survey course in nuclear physics.

The topics covered in my book are nuclear properties, nuclear force obtained from the properties of deuteron and nucleon-nucleon interaction, nuclear structure as discussed in different nuclear models, modes of decay of unstable nuclei, and many types of nuclear reactions and their interpretation. For a one-semester course in nuclear physics, I can only discuss briefly experimental techniques of production and detection of various particles. I have given a brief discussion of application of nuclear physics to some other fields.

I have only quoted references of scientists who are credited with the original ideas or theories, which made important contribution to the field of nuclear physics. I have also quoted references of scientists whose data I have used as illustrations of the concepts of nuclear physics discussed in this book.

This book is written by me alone and is based upon the lecture notes I had prepared from consulting several textbooks on nuclear physics. In my book, I have used significant amount of material from Enge’s book Introduction to Nuclear Physics, an excellent book published in 1965 by Addison and Wesley. I would like to acknowledge with thanks the permission given to me by Mrs. Alice William Enge to use this material in my book. I am also thankful to nuclear theorist, Norman Francis, formerly of Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, for his helpful suggestions, which I have incorporated in my textbook. I will be thankful for any suggestions offered to me by the readers of this textbook. I would like to acknowledge the help of my students, Laxman Mainali, Hassan Mahmood, and Physics Department secretary, Paul LaBate, for their help in typing the manuscript.I would like to thank Muhammad Asim Mubeen for the design of the books front cover.

J. B. Garg

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CHAPTER 1

BASIC PROPERTIES OF