Detailing of the different typologies of measurements (with magnetic spectrometer, using cinematic technique etc..) applied to the different field (nuclear physics, astrophysics, applied physics...)
Identification of charged nuclear fragments: energy measurements and timing with different typologies ofì detector. Examples of modern apparatuses for Nuclear Physics experiments.
- G. F. Knoll, Radiation Detection and Measurement, John Wiley & Sons
- W.R. Leo, Techniques for nuclear and particle Physics experiments, Springer-Verlag
- Scientific published papers about the described experiments.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge about the most advanced experimental methods in nuclear physics. Critical evaluation of the usage of different types of detectors and methods as a function of the physical problem to be studied
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge about detection methods for ionizing radiation.
Courses of the three year degree in Physics and Astrophysics.
Teaching Methods
6 CFU,
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 150
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 48
Type of Assessment
Oral examination to evaluate the real understanding of the topics discussed in the course, with particular attention to the capacity of reasoning and the use of the appropriate language.
Chance (to be agreed with teachers) to start the oral exam on a subject chosen among those discussed in the course, to be more deeply studied.
Course program
Main topics of the course.
- References on basic often used concepts: energy loss of radiation in matter at various energy regimes; heavy ion reactions as a tool to learn about nuclear properties; schematizing nuclear reactions; cross section; important variable to describe reaction channel rates and production in heavy-ion experiments. Effects of background
- Reverse and direct kinematic reactions
- Magnetic spetrometers: employ, bending radius and momentum, nuclear spectroscopy with spectrometers. Examples based on the present landscape of nuclear research with focus on transfer reactions and direct reactions.
- Absolute cross section measurements also at zero degree. Use of electrostatic deflectors. Various methods and applications based on current research.
- Interpretation of identification spectra from spectrometers and others detector combinations.
- Measurements in nuclear astrophysics. Reference to the stellar evolution context, to the relevant reactions and the relevant energies. Experimental methods and problems in the measurements at very low energies with examples from the italian research.
- Neutron measurements. Neutron beams and methods adopted at the nTOF facility (CERN)
- Kinematic coincidence method, use and limits. Cases from real experiments with gas detectors and spectrometers.
- Particle evaporation from hot nuclei: temperature and maxwellian spectra. Measurements with evaporation spectra and thermodinamic properties of nuclei. Particle evaporation and effects on the nuclear dynamics access.
- Measurments of particle correlations
- Time measurements in nuclear physics with some examples in various energy regime and conditions.
- Different methods of charged particles identification: deltaE-E method, Pulse Shape Anlysis and ToF. Examples of application using modern apparatus.
- Energy and longitudinal straggling
- Examples of Active target detectors: a completely different way to identify the charged particles