Quantum Collision Theory and Applications to Nuclear Reactions

• Review of some nuclear physics concepts.
• Introduction to nuclear reactions (units in nuclear physics, types of reactions, thresholds, cross sections, non-relativistic kinematic center of mass, center-of-mass and laboratory reference frames, interaction and detection).
• Some reactions of astrophysical interest.
• Elements of collision theory (stationary states and scattering amplitude, integral scattering equation, Born approximation and expansion, phase shift method—partial waves, resonances, Levinson’s theorem, low-energy behavior—generalization to multiple channels).
• Reaction matrix method (theoretical and experimental).
• Exercises of computer modeling. 

To provide an introduction to the physics of nuclear reactions. Methods for analyzing low-energy reactions. An introduction to reactions of astrophysical interest.

Required and Corequired knowledge and skills

Quantum mechanics; nuclear physics. Notions of Python.

Slide presentation and/or blackboard. Exercises solving by computer modeling. 

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

References (books, articles) will be provided during the course.

For general nuclear physics
K.S. Krane, I ntroduction to nuclear physics, John Wiley & Son

 

For an introduction to quantum collision theory, see:

Joachain C., Quantum Collision Theory, North Holland 1987
 

For a general introduction to quantum mechanics (prerequisite), see:

Cohen-Tannoudji C., Diu D., Laloë F., Quantum Mechanics, Vol. I and II (Hermann, 1977) and III (EDP Sciences, 2019)

Basdevant J.-L., Dalibard J., Quantum Mechanics (École Polytechnique, 2008)

Course notes

• Université virtuelle

Additional information

Any use of AI for the practical programming exercise must comply with the university's guidelines (see General Academic Regulations - Règlement général des études).

Contacts

Contact:
M. Sferrazza and J.M. Sparemberg
 

email:
michele.sferrazza@ulb.be
jean-marc.sparenberg@ulb.be

Campus

Plaine

Method(s) of evaluation

• Oral examination
• Oral presentation
• Other

Oral examination

Oral presentation

Other

• Oral exam.
• Individual computer science exercise (contributing to the development of a graphical user interface, calculating a reaction rate, fitting experimental data, etc.).

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

Oral exam (2/3), computer project (1/3)

Language(s) of evaluation

• english
• (if applicable french )