Part One I › Division I I › Section 112 112

The Atomic Nucleus and Elementary Particles

Subject Outline

AThe structure of the atomic nucleus and general nuclear phenomena
- 1General properties of atomic nuclei
  - aMass
  - bCharge: atomic number
  - cRadius
  - dSpin
  - eMagnetic moment: nuclear magnetic resonance phenomena
  - fElectric quadrupole moment
- 2Components of atomic nuclei
  - aNeutrons [see D., below]
  - bProtons
  - cOther possible short- and long-lived components
- 3Isotopes: atomic species with the same atomic number but with different atomic masses [see B., below]
- 4Systematic relationships between nuclear masses and nuclear binding energies
- 5Nuclear models and the properties of nuclear states
- 6Theories of nuclear structure and nuclear binding force
- 7General nuclear phenomena and reactions [see C. and E., below]
- 8The formation and evolution of the atomic nuclei in the universe
BIsotopes: atomic species with the same atomic number but with different atomic masses
- 1Classification of isotopes or nuclides
- 2Isotopic composition of the elements
- 3Formation of isotopes by nuclear reactions [see E., below]
- 4Effects of isotopic substitution on physical and chemical properties of substances
- 5Chemical and physical separation of isotopes
  - aMass spectrometry
  - bOther methods of separation; e.g., diffusion, centrifugal separation, thermal diffusion
- 6Applications of radioactive and stable isotopes [see 242.D.2.and 723.G.8.]
CRadioactive nuclei: their properties and their radiations
- 1The phenomenon of radioactivity
- 2Types of radioactivity
- 3Sources of radioactivity: naturally occurring radioactive elements, particle bombardment
- 4Interaction of radiation with matter [see I., below]
- 5The energy release associated with radioactive decay
- 6Nuclear models used to explain nuclear binding: the liquid drop model, the shell model, the unified model
- 7Rates of radioactive transitions
  - aExponential decay law
  - bAlpha decay
  - cBeta decay
  - dGamma decay
- 8Applications of radioactivity [see 723.G.8.]
- 9Measurement and characterization of radioactivity [see 1.4., below]
DThe neutron as a component of the nucleus and in nuclear reactions
- 1Properties of neutrons
- 2Sources of neutrons
- 3Manipulation and control of neutrons
- 4Nuclear reactions produced by neutrons
- 5Neutron detection based on the secondary effects of nuclear reactions
EReactions of atomic nuclei
- 1The classification of nuclear reactions
  - aThe types of nuclear reactions classified according to the kind of bombarding radiation or particles
  - bThe types of nuclear reactions classified according to the nuclear processes involved or according to their products
- 2The energy relationships of nuclear reactions
- 3Theories and models of nuclear reactions
FThe splitting of atomic nuclei by nuclear fission
- 1Phenomena of nuclear fission
  - aSpontaneous and induced fission reactions
  - bProducts of nuclear fission
  - cThe energy released in fission
- 2Fission chain reactions: the critical mass
  - aNuclear explosions: nuclear, or atomic, bombs
  - bControlled nuclear fission
- 3Nuclear models and theories of nuclear fission: liquid drop model, adiabatic models, statistical models
GThe fusion of atomic nuclei
- 1Phenomena of nuclear fusion
- 2Nuclear fusion reactions
  - aGeneral types of fusion reactions
  - bThe energy released in fusion reactions
  - cRequirements for intensive fusion reactions
- 3Occurrence of thermonuclear reactions
  - aThermonuclear reactions in the Sun and the stars
  - bThermonuclear explosions: the hydrogen, or thermonuclear, bomb
- 4Basic conditions required for a thermonuclear reactor
  - aThe formation of a suitable plasma
  - bThe confinement and control of high-temperature plasma
- 5The possible approaches to controlled fusion: prospects for the future
HSubatomic, or elementary, particles
- 1Development of the concept of subatomic particles as the fundamental units of matter and energy
  - aThe discovery of the various particles
  - bYukawa mesons and the theory of nuclear forces
  - cAdvances in quantum field theory: renormalization theory, dispersion theory
  - dThe known elementary particles
- 2The fundamental forces associated with particle interactions
- 3Systems for classifying the elementary particles
  - aAccording to the forces that influence them
  - bAccording to the kind of statistics they follow
  - cAccording to their particle-antiparticle symmetries
  - dAccording to stability
  - eAccording to charge multiplets
  - fAccording to unitary symmetry, or the SU(3) classification
  - gAccording to charged-hypercharge multiplets
- 4Elementary particles and the laws of conservation and symmetry
  - aThe theory of subatomic particles and the quantum mechanical symmetry operations
  - bDynamic symmetries: space and time inversion
  - cViolation of conservation laws: charge conjugation, time reversal, parity
  - dInternal symmetries
- 5Sources of the unstable elementary particles
  - aFormation of resonances in high-energy accelerators
  - bProduction by cosmic ray interactions
- 6Relations of the weak interactions to strong and electromagnetic interactions described by conserved current and algebra of current
- 7Other particles suggested by contemporary theoretical ideas
- 8Reactions of elementary particles with atoms
- 9Theories of nuclear structure and nuclear forces involving the elementary particles
IEffects of the passage of nuclear, or elementary, particles, nuclear radiations, or ionizing radiation through matter
- 1The fundamental processes involved when energetic particles or radiations interact with or pass through matter
  - aThe passage of electromagnetic waves and their interaction with atomic structure
  - bThe passage of particles or radiations through matter
- 2Secondary and tertiary effects of radiation: physical effects, molecular activation and related phenomena, chemical effects, biological effects
- 3Utilization of high-energy radiation in biological, medical, and technological fields
- 4The use of fundamental processes of interaction between radiation and matter for the detection and characterization of nuclear and elementary processes
  - aMechanisms of detection systems: ionization and charge collection, conversion of the distributed energy of the primary ionizing particle into light
  - bProperties of ionization media
  - cMajor types of radiation detectors: scintillation counters, ionization detectors, spark chambers, cloud chambers, bubble chambers [see 723.F.7.]