In the frame of the course will be explained the basic concepts of atomic and nuclear physics. We begin with description of atomic models as were developed in accordance to the important experiments accomplished at the beginning of 20th century. Thomson's experiment, discovery of electron, Rutherford experiment leading to the hypothesis of atomic nuclei, the observation of optical spectral lines during study of discharges in gases will be discussed. The study of spectral lines led to the Bohr atom model and to the birth of quantum mechanics itself. The atomic orbital model provided a new theoretical basis for spectroscopy. Main experiments leading to quantum theory introduction will be studied and commented in the frame of classical and quantum physics differences: photoelectric effect and its Einstein's interpretation, Compton's effect and wave-particle duality of particles, Davison-Germer experiment, Planck's interpretation of black-body radiation. Basic ideas and concepts of quantum mechanics will be presented and applied in the frame of quantum-mechanic model of hydrogen atom. Schrödinger equation for hydrogen atom will be solved and then we discuss the meaning of the hydrogen atom wave functions and energies. In the frame of atomic shell structure will be looked through the Frank-Hertz experiment, angular momentum of electron, spin of electron, magnetic behavior of atoms, atomic shell structure in accordance with periodic table of elements. The basic information about the origin, main principles and experimental data connected with atomic optical spectra will be presented and followed by discussion about the basic rules adopted for electromagnetic transition probability. Basic X-ray emission mechanism will be described and X-ray application in material science and medicine will be briefly introduced. The concept of electron spin will be shown on experiments leading to the electron spin discovery (Stern-Gerlach experiments with atomic beam in non-homogeneous magnetic field, Einstein-de Haas experiment dealing with macroscopic magnetic momentum measurement). Spin-orbital coupling of electrons causing fine structure of electronic levels in atoms will be discussed. In the second part of course we will focus on nuclear physics - firstly discovery of proton and neutron and first atomic nuclei models will be introduced. Basic physical quantitities as nuclei mass, binding energy as a function of nucleon number will be presented. Natural radioactivity, radioactivity decay rules, conservation laws and types will be described - production of alpha, beta and gamma particles. We will touch the following topics - nuclear models, neutrons and protons in nuclei and their characteristics, basic characteristics of other particles, different types of nuclear reactions, fission and its application in nuclear reactors, detectors of ionizing radiation, main principles of detection of neutral and charged particles.
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