On completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. demonstrate a knowledge of fundamental aspects of the structure of the nucleus, radioactive decay, nuclear reactions and the interaction of radiation and matter;
2. discuss nuclear and radiation physics connection with other physics disciplines – solid state, elementary particle physics, radiochemistry, astronomy;
3. discuss nuclear and radiation physics applications in medical diagnostics and therapy, energetics, geology, archaeology;
4. describe experimental techniques used (or developed) for nuclear physics purposes (logic circuits, gamma cameras, semiconductor detectors) and discuss their influence on development of new technologies
5. explore an application of nuclear and/or radiation physics and communicate their understanding to a group of their peers in a short presentation.

• Williams, W.S.C., Nuclear and Particle Physics, Oxford University Press, 1991
• Johns, H. E. and J. R. Cunningham, The Physics of Radiology, 4th Edition, CC Thomas: Springfield, 1983

• Lederer CM and V. S. Shirley, Table of Isotopes, 7th Edition, Wiley, 1978
• Burcham WE, and M. Jobes, Nuclear and Particle Physics”, Longman, 1995
• Leo W. R., Techniques for Nuclear and Particle Physics Experiments”, Springer-Verlag, 1994
• Khan F. M. and A. R. Potish., The Physics of Radiation Therapy, 3rd Edition, Williams and Wilkins, 2003

MyUni: Teaching materials and course documentation will be posted on the MyUni website (http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/).

This course is delivered by the following means:

• 24 x 1-hour interactive lectures with two sessions per week

A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).

• Nuclear Physics (50%)
  • Nuclear systematics
  • Nuclear models
  • Radioactivity
  • Nuclear reactions
  • Applications of nuclear physics
• Radiation Physics (50%)
  • Interactions of charged particles with matter
  • X-ray production
  • Interactions of ionizing photons with matter
  • Radiation quantities and measurement
  • Solar and cosmic radiation
  • Radiation transport with Monte Carlo

Lecture Preparation
Before each lecture, students work through the relevant course material, prepare answers to the embedded questions, and identify aspects which require further explanation. Responses to questions are submitted on line in preparation for each lecture.

Presentation
Students prepare a 10 minute presentation (allowing 2-3 minutes for questions) on a nuclear and radiation physics topic. Students also submit a summary of their presentation topic. A component of the mark will be based on interaction during other students' question time.

Assignments
The standard assessment consists of 3 assignments.

Final Exam
One 2 hour exam is used to assess the understanding of and ability to use the material presented in lectures and provided in the reading handouts.

Submission of Assigned Work

Coversheets must be completed and attached to all submitted work. Coversheets can be obtained from the School Office (room G33 Physics) or from MyUNI. Work should be submitted via the assignment drop box at the School Office.

Late submission of assessments

If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days or more late without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the mark.