Foundations of Nuclear and Particle Physics

Donnelly, T. WilliamT. William Donnelly is a Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research is centered on theoretical studies of electroweak interactions with nuclei.Formaggio, Joseph A.Joseph A. Formaggio is an Associate Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research focuses on understanding the fundamental properties of neutrinos.Holstein, Barry R.Barry R. Holstein is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His research is in the area of theoretical physics, especially the particle/nuclear physics interface.Milner, Richard G.Richard G. Milner is a Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research focuses on the experimental study of hadrons using electron scattering together with polarized beams and targets.Surrow, BerndBernd Surrow is an Associate Professor of Physics at Temple University, Philadelphia. His research is centered on high-energy QCD collider physics and novel micro-pattern detector development.

This textbook brings together nuclear and particle physics, presenting a balanced overview of both fields as well as the interplay between the two. The theoretical as well as the experimental foundations are covered, providing students with a deep understanding of the subject. In-chapter exercises ranging from basic experimental to sophisticated theoretical questions provide an important tool for students to solidify their knowledge. Suitable for upper undergraduate courses in nuclear and particle physics as well as more advanced courses, the book includes road maps guiding instructors on tailoring the content to their course. Online resources including color figures, tables, and a solutions manual complete the teaching package. This textbook will be essential for students preparing for further study or a career in the field who require a solid grasp of both nuclear and particle physics.

This textbook brings together nuclear and particle physics, balancing theoretical and experimental perspectives for graduates and upper undergraduates.

1. Introduction; 2. Symmetries; 3. Building hadrons from quarks; 4. The standard model; 5. QCD and confinement; 6. Chiral symmetry and QCD; 7. Introduction to lepton scattering; 8. Elastic electron scattering from the nucleon; 9. Hadron structure via lepton-nucleon scattering; 10. High-energy QCD; 11. The nucleon-nucleon interaction; 12. The structure and properties of few-body nuclei; 13. Overview of many-body nuclei; 14. Models of many-body nuclei; 15. Electron scattering from discrete states; 16. Electroexcitation of high-lying excitations of the nucleus; 17. Beta decay; 18. Neutrino physics; 19. The physics of relativistic heavy-ions; 20. Astrophysics; 21. Beyond the standard model physics; Appendix A. Useful information; Appendix B. Quantum theory.