FYS4525 – Advanced Nuclear Reactions and Applications in Astrophysics
Course description
Course content
This course will provide the students with an understanding of the main astrophysical processes to produce elements in the cosmos. In particular, the connection of nuclear physics data to astrophysical relevant cross-sections will be covered, which includes hands-on experience with the state-of-the-art TALYS reaction code, to deepen the understanding of the interplay of nuclear physics and astrophysics.
Learning outcome
After completing this course:
- you will have knowledge of how elements heavier than iron could be formed in astrophysical environments, especially the s-process, the r-process, and the p-process.
- you will have a detailed knowledge of the importance of nuclear structure physics and nuclear reactions underlying nuclear astrophysical processes.
- you will have a detailed knowledge of the nuclear reaction models, such as the Hauser-Feshbach formalism, relevant to nuclear astrophysics.
- you will be able to calculate nuclear cross-sections e.g. neutron capture cross-sections.
- you will have hands-on training in running the state-of-of-the-art reaction code TALYS using both experimental and theoretical level densities and gamma strength functions as inputs.
- you will have knowledge of experimental nuclear physics methods and techniques used for measuring nuclear properties for nuclear astrophysical processes.
Admission to the course
Send a short application to studieinfo@fys.uio.no. Only students enrolled in the programme?Physics (master), programme?option Nuclear and Particle Physics (programme option),?or students enrolled in the programme Astronomy (master), may apply.
This course should be a part of your approved study plan. Contact the Department of Physics if you are unsure if you are eligible to apply.
Recommended previous knowledge
Overlapping courses
- 5 credits overlap with FYS9525 – Advanced Nuclear Reactions and Applications in Astrophysics.
Teaching
The course will be given as an intensive course over two weeks with 30 hours of lectures and 30 hours of problem sessions and hands-on calculations using the TALYS code. There will be a mandatory report, with a deadline several weeks after the intensive course.
As?the?teaching involves laboratory and/or field work, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.
Cost of taking the course
The location of the intensive course may be in Oslo or abroad. If given abroad there will be travel and housing?costs. Students can apply to have these costs covered, and the selection of students for grants is based on the relevance of the course for their Ph.D. or master thesis.
Examination
- Home exam in the form of a report on TALYS calculations, which counts 100 % towards the final grade.
When writing your exercises?make sure to familiarize yourself with the?rules for use of sources and citations.?Breach of these rules may lead to suspicion of?attempted cheating.
It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses: FYS9525 – Advanced Nuclear Reactions and Applications in Astrophysics
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
In this course, postponed exams are not offered for exam candidates who are ill before the exam or who become ill during the exam. A deferred submission deadline can be offered.
The illness must be documented with a doctor's certificate dated no later than the ordinary submission date. You must submit the doctor's certificate to the course's contact point before the submission deadline for the home exam.
New exams are not offered to candidates who withdraw or do not pass the regular exam.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.