Introduction to Atomic and Nuclear Physics (PHY318) is a core course designed to provide students with a fundamental understanding of atomic structure, angular momentum, magnetic properties, nuclear properties, radioactivity, particle acceleration, and basic nuclear models. The course covers atomic angular momentum and magnetic phenomena, LS and JJ coupling schemes, Zeeman effects, nuclear mass, binding energy, size and spin, radioactive decay processes, cyclotron principles, and the liquid drop model with the Bethe–Weizsäcker formula.
The course also emphasizes experimental understanding through six laboratory experiments, including the Franck–Hertz experiment, ESR measurement of the Lande g-factor, Fabry–Perot interferometry, numerical aperture of optical fibre, and Millikan's oil-drop experiment.
Overall, the course aims to develop students' ability to understand basic atomic and nuclear properties, quantum phenomena, magnetic interactions, radioactivity, and experimental techniques, while strengthening conceptual, analytical, and practical skills.
- Teacher: Arunabha Saha