MASTER of SCIENCE in PHYSICS

Semester III
Course Code: PH-CT501
Course Name: Nuclear & Particle Physics
Marks: 100 Duration: 60 Hrs (45L+ 15T)

Course Objectives
The primary objective is to introduce the basic concept of Nuclear & Particle Physics and
impart of knowledge for particle and radiations detectors.

Contents:
Unit I (5 lectures)
Static properties of Nuclei: Nuclear Mass & size determination, Mott scattering, nuclear
form- factors. Angular momentum, spin, parity, iso-spin and moments of nuclei (Electric and
Magnetic).

Unit II (10 lectures)

Two Nucleon Systems & Nuclear Forces: Dipole and quadrupole moments of the deuteron,
Central and tensor forces, Evidence for saturation property, Neutron-proton scattering,
exchange character, spin dependence (ortho and para-hydrogen), charge independence
and charge symmetry. S-wave effective range theory. Proton- proton scattering
(qualitative idea only). Evidence for hardcore potential. Meson theory.

Unit III (8 lectures)

Nuclear Models:Concept of Liquid drop model, Magic nuclei, nucleon separation energy,
Single particle shell model (including Mean filed approach, spin orbit coupling), Physical
concepts of the unified model (Collective Model)

Unit IV (7lectures)
Nuclear Decays and Reactions: Electromagnetic decays: selection rules, Fermi theory of
beta decay. Kurie plot. Fermi and Gamow-Teller transitions. Logeft value, Parity
violation in beta-decay. Gamma decay, selection rules, Introduction to Nuclear Reactions
(Conservation Laws, kinematics of reactions, Q-value, reaction rate, reaction cross section),
Concept of Direct and compound nuclear reaction

Unit V (10 lectures)

Elementary Particles: Relativistic kinematics, Various Interactions, Parity, Charge
Conjugation and Time Reversal, Classification: spin and parity determination of pions and
strange particles. Gell-Mann Nishijima scheme. Properties of quarks and their
classification. Elementary ideas of SU(2) and SU(3) symmetry groups and hadron
classification. Introduction to the standard model. Electroweak interaction-W & Z Bosons.

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Unit VI (5 lectures)
Nuclear Detectors: Interaction of radiation with matter (qualitative idea), Basics of Solid
state detectors, Scintillation and gas detectors for particle and electromagnetic radiation
detection, Idea of Calorimeter, Hybrid detectors and arrays.

Course Learning Outcomes

Students will extend the understanding of fundamental forces by studying nuclear and weak
forces. Understanding of nuclear structure and reaction dynamics will provides knowledge of
nuclear-nucleon interaction. Students will also understand particle physics through this
Course. Knowledge of uclear detectors and the interaction of radiation with matter will also
be imparted to the students.

Suggested Readings
1. Introducing Nuclear Physics, K. S. Krane (Wiley India., 2008).
2. Nuclear Physics – Theory & Experiments, R.R. Roy & B.P. Nigam (New Age
International, 2005)
3. Nuclear Physics in A Nutshell, C. A. Bertulani (1st Ed., Princeton University Press,
2007)
4. Concept of Nuclear Physics, B. L. Cohen (McGraw – Hill, 2003)
5. Nuclear Physics, S. N. Ghoshal (First edition, S. Chand Publication)
6. Nuclear & Particle Physics : An Introduction, B. Martin (Willey, 2006)
7. Introduction to Elementary Particles, D. Griffiths (Academic Press, 2nd Ed. 2008)
8. Physics and Engineering of Radiation Detection by Syed Naeem Ahmed(Academic
Press 2007)
9. Radiation detection and measurement, G.F. Knoll (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3rdEd.,2000)

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 MASTER of SCIENCE in PHYSICS
Semester III
Course Code: PH-CL502
Course Name: Computational Physics (Lab)
Marks: 100 Duration: 60 Hrs (45L+ 15T)

Course Objectives
This course is intended to be an Introduction to a programming Language (C/C++) as well as
application for Numerical Analysis. The course would impart training in the structure of the
programming language as well as train the students in using programs to numerically solve
problems in various areas. In addition, it will also familiarize the students to the Unix
environment.

Contents:

 Introduction to Linux and Computer Programming Language (C/C++).

 Introduction to Graphics (Gnuplot etc.)
 Finite & Infinite Series
 Root Finding (Bisection, Secant and Newton-Raphson Methods)
 Solving First & Second Order differential Equations including Simultaneous
Equations (Euler & Runge Kutta )
 Numerical Integration (Trapezoidal, Simpson and Quadrature methods)
 Schroedinger Equation- Finding the Eigenvalues & Eigenfunctions.
 Matrices- Arrays of variable Size, Matrix Operations, Eigenvalues & Eigenvectors,
Matrix Inversion, Solving Systems of Linear Equations.

Course Learning Outcomes

A student having taken the course would be expected to be proficient in programming in the
language (C/C++). In addition, it is also expected that the student would be able to write
programs for solving various problems in Physics using techniques like Summing up of
infinite series, solving differential equations and using numerical integration.

Suggested Readings
1. Numerical Recipes in C++: The Art of Scientific Computing, William H. Press , Saul
A. Teukolsky, William T. Vetterling, Brian P. Flannery (2nd Ed., Cambridge
University Press, 2002)
2. Numerical Recipes in C: The Art of Scientific Computing, William H. Press , Brian P.
Flannery, Saul A. Teukolsky, William T. Vetterling (2nd Ed., Cambridge University
Press, 2002)
3. Mathematical Methods for Physicists, George Arfken, Hans Weber, Frank E. Harris
(7th Ed., Elsevier, 2012)
4. Lab. Manual for Computer Programming & Numerical Methods, Dept. of Physics &
Astrophysics, University of Delhi, 2017.

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 MASTER of SCIENCE in PHYSICS
Semester III
Course Code: PH-ET531
Course Name: General Theory of Relativity and Cosmology-I
Marks: 100 Duration: 60 Hrs (45L+ 15T)

Course Objectives
The primary objective is to teach the students the physical and mathematical basis of
Einstein’s relativistic theory of gravitation

Contents:
Unit I (5 lectures)
Equality of gravitational and intertial masses, Equivalence principle, Principle of general
covariance.

Unit II (9 lectures)
Tensor Analysis: covariant and contravariant tensors. Tensors of arbitrary rank. Metric
tensor. Parallel transport and covariant differentiation. Affine connection and its relation
to metric tensor. Curvature tensor and its symmetries. Bianchi identities. Weyl tensor and
conformal invariance.

Unit III (15 lectures)

Geodesics: Equation of motion of particles. Weak fields and Newtonian approximation.
Time and distance in general theory, gravitational red and blue shifts, experimental
verification, Einstein’s field equation - Newtonian gravity as an approximation,
Schwarzschild solution, Radial motion towards centre. Nature of singularities, black
holes, even horizon, Kruskal co-ordinates

Unit IV (8 lectures)
General orbits, constants of motion, deflection of light, precession of perihelion and
radar echo. Standard, isotropic and harmonic coordinates. Parametrized post-Newtonian
formalism and status of observational verification. Mach’s principle.

Unit V (8 lectures)
Energy momentum tensor for a perfect fluid, equation of motion from field equation for
equation for dust. Action principle for field equations. Conservation laws in curved space
and pseudo energy tensor for gravitational field

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Course Learning Outcomes
Students will be trained in tensor analysis and tensor calculus. This course will teach the
formalism of general relativity (GR). They will learn how to obtain an exact solution of GR,
namely, the Scwarzschild solution.

Suggested Readings
1. Introducing Einstein's Relativity, Ray D'Inverno (Clarendon Press, 1992)
2. Principles of Gravitation and Cosmology, M. Berry (Cambridge University Press,
1976)
3. Introduction to General Relativity & Cosmology, Steven Weinberg (John Wiley &
Sons, 1972)
4. The Classical Theory of Fields, L.D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz (Pergamon, 1975)
5. Classical Fields: General Relativity and Gauge Theory, Moshe Carmeli ( World
Scientific, 2001)
6. General Theory of Relativity, P.A. M. Dirac (John Wiley, 1975)
7. Gravity, Black Holes and the Very Early universe: An Introduction to General
Relativity and Cosmology, Tai L. Chow (Springer, 2008)
1.

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 MASTER of SCIENCE in PHYSICS
Semester III
Course Code:PH-ET532
Course Name: Astrophysics - I
Marks: 100 Duration: 60 Hrs (45L+ 15T)

Course Objectives
This course covers a survey of modern astronomy basics from an observer’s perspective, how
data from distant sources is obtained through modern telescopes and detectors and is then
interpreted.

Contents:
Unit I (18 lectures)
Observational Data: Astronomical Coordinates- Celestial Sphere, Horizon, Equatorial,
Ecliptic and Galactic Systems of Coordinates, Conversion from one system of co-ordinates to
another, Magnitude Scale- Apparent and absolute magnitude, distance modulus.
Determination of mass, luminosity, radius, temperature and distance of a star, Colour Index,
Stellar classification – Henry-Draper and modern M-K Classification schemes, H-R
Diagram, H-R Diagram of Clusters, Empirical mass- luminosity relation.

Unit II (12 lectures)

Telescopes & Instrumentation: Different optical configurations for Astronomical
telescopes, Mountings, plate scale and diffraction limits, telescopes for gamma ray, X-ray,
UV, IR, mm and radio astronomy, Stellar Photometry - solid state, Photo-multplier tube and
CCD based photometers, Spectroscopy and Polarimetery using CCD detectors.

Unit III (8 lectures)

Sun: Physical Characteristics of sun- basic data, solar rotation, solar magnetic fields,
Photosphere - granulation, sunspots, Babcock model of sunspot formation, solar atmosphere –
chromosphere and Corona, Solar activity- flares, prominences, solar wind, activity cycle,
Helioseismology.

Unit IV (7 lectures)
Variable Stars & Asteroseismology: Photometry of variable stars, differential photometry,
extinction coefficients, Classes of variable stars, Period-Mean density relationship,
Classical Cepheids as distance indicators, pulsation Mechanisms.

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Course Learning Outcomes
Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of various aspects of observational
astronomy. How data is acquired and interpreted to obtain physical properties of a variety of
astronomical objects.

Suggested Readings
1. Astronomy, The Evolving Universe, M. Zeilik (Cambridge University Press, 2002)
2. Introduction to Astronomy & Cosmology, I. Morrison (Wiley, 2008)
3. Telescopes and Techniques, C. R. Kitchin (Springer, 1995)
4. Astronomical Photometry, A. A. Henden & R. H. Kaitchuk (Willmann-Bell, 1990)
5. An Introduction to Astronomical Photometry, E. Budding (Cambridge University
Press, 1993)
6. Universe, R. A. Freedman & W. J. Kaufmann (W. H. Freeman & Co., 2008)
7. Fundamental Astronomy, H. Karttunen et al. (Springer, 2003)
8. Solar Astrophysics, P. V. Foukal (Wiley-VCH, 2004)
9. Fundamentals of Solar Astronomy, A. Bhatnagar & W.C. Livingston (World
Scientific, 2005)

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