From Nucleons to the Atomic Nucleus

by Heyde, Kris L. G.

• ISBN13: 9783540631224
• ISBN10: 3540631224
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-11-01
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

This monograph originated from various lectures held by the author. It offers a concise overview of modern nuclear research, starting with a discussion of nucleon--nucleon interactions followed by nuclear structure and electromagnetic interactions. The text continues with an exploration of nuclear matter at high densities. The last chapters are devoted to the nucleus as a tiny laboratory where fundamental physical processes are to be investigated. Finally, the cosmic connection between nuclear and astrophysics is established. This short overview gives perspectives for further research at facilities worldwide and can serve as a source for lecturers and graduate students alike.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: What Nuclear Physics is About	1	(10)
1.1 Further Reading	8	(3)
2. Nucleons in Interaction: The Nucleon-Nucleon Force	11	(10)
2.1 Introduction	11	(1)
2.2 The Symmetries of the Nucleon-Nucleon Force	11	(2)
2.3 Experimental Knowledge of Nucleon-Nucleon Interactions	13	(2)
2.4 The Nucleon-Nucleon Force	15	(4)
2.4.1 Potential Models	15	(2)
2.4.2 Relation to Quark Models	17	(2)
2.5 How Do Nucleons Interact Inside the Nucleus? The Role of the Nuclear Medium	19	(1)
2.6 Further Reading	19	(2)
3. Introducing the Atomic Nucleus: Nuclear Structure	21	(58)
3.1 Bulk or Global Properties of the Atomic Nucleus	21	(9)
3.2 The Nucleus as an Interacting Many-Body System	30	(8)
3.3 Symmetries in the Atomic Nucleus	38	(8)
3.3.1 Structural Symmetries	38	(2)
3.3.2 Dynamical Symmetries	40	(6)
3.3.3 Conclusion	46	(1)
3.4 The Nuclear Structure Phase Diagram	46	(24)
3.4.1 Introduction	46	(2)
3.4.2 Behavior of Rapidly Rotating Nuclei	48	(8)
3.4.3 Heating the Atomic Nucleus: Towards Chaotic Motion	56	(6)
3.4.4 Exotic Nuclei: Systems Far From Stability and Weakly Bound Quantum Systems	62	(8)
3.5 Further Reading	70	(9)
4. Nuclear Physics with Electromagnetic Interactions	79	(22)
4.1 Layers of Constituents	79	(2)
4.2 The Electromagnetic Probe	81	(4)
4.3 How Nucleons Move Inside the Nucleus: Mean-Field Theory and Beyond	85	(5)
4.3.1 Independent Particle Motion and Nucleon Knock-Out	85	(3)
4.3.2 Beyond the Mean Field: Nucleon-Nucleon Correlations and Deep-Hole States	88	(2)
4.4 Physics at Even Higher Energies: Inside the Nucleon	90	(7)
4.4.1 Inelastic Electron-Proton Scattering	93	(1)
4.4.2 Excitation Spectrum of the Proton	94	(1)
4.4.3 Proton Spin	95	(2)
4.5 Further Reading	97	(4)
5. Exploring Nuclear Matter at High Densities	101	(20)
5.1 Introduction	101	(2)
5.2 Nuclear Fragmentation and Multifragmentation	103	(1)
5.3 Flow Patterns in Hot and Compressed Nuclear Matter	104	(4)
5.4 The Ultimate Phase Change: Quark-Gluon Phase Transitions	108	(9)
5.5 Further Reading	117	(4)
6. The Nucleus as a Laboratory for Studying Fundamental Processes	121	(24)
6.1 Introduction	121	(1)
6.2 Beta Decay and Double Beta Decay: A Road to the Neutrino Mass	122	(5)
6.3 The Elusive Neutrino	127	(6)
6.3.1 Neutrino Production Mechanisms	128	(1)
6.3.2 Neutrino Detection and the Missing Neutrino Problem	129	(1)
6.3.3 Neutrino Mass and Neutrino Oscillations	130	(2)
6.3.4 Planned New Neutrino Detector Experiments	132	(1)
6.4 The Essentials of the Neutron: Famous for 14 Minutes 49 Seconds	133	(2)
6.5 Breaking of Fundamental Symmetries: Low-Energy Tests	135	(6)
6.5.1 Tests of Time-Reversal Invariance	135	(2)
6.5.2 Tests of Parity Violation in Nuclear Physics	137	(4)
6.6 Further Reading	141	(4)
7. The `Cosmic' Connection: Nuclear Astrophysics and Onwards into the Stars	145	(24)
7.1 Introduction	145	(1)
7.2 Element Synthesis	145	(6)
7.2.1 The Principles and Upwards to (56)Fe	145	(3)
7.2.2 Slow and Rapid Neutron Capture	148	(3)
7.3 Why Radioactive Ion Beams Are Needed and How to Produce Them	151	(9)
7.3.1 Why Do We Need Radioactive Ion Beams?	151	(1)
7.3.2 How Can Radioactive Ion Beams Be Created?	152	(8)
7.4 Studying the Nuclear Ashes in the Laboratory	160	(4)
7.5 Conclusion	164	(1)
7.6 Further Reading	164	(5)
8. From Nucleons to the Atomic Nucleus: A Short Story	169	(12)
8.1 The Short Story	169	(2)
8.2 Nuclear Physics as a Piece of the Global Physics Jigsaw	171	(2)
8.3 The Importance of Technical Progress	173	(3)
8.4 How Well Do We Understand the Atomic Nucleus?	176	(3)
8.5 Further Reading	179	(2)
Glossary of Acronyms	181	(4)
Index	185