UNIT-I
Interaction of nuclear radiation with matter: Energy loss due to ionization (Bethe Bloch formula), Range and energy straggling, Energy loss of electrons and positrons, radiation loss by fast electrons, Bremsstrahlung, electron-positron annihilation, production of Cerenkov radiation, Gamma-ray interaction with matter, photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, pair production (qualitative description). Detectors for nuclear radiation: Gas-filled detectors, Ionization chamber, proportional counter, G.M. counter, Scintillation detector and Photomultiplier tube, Brief account of Semiconductor detectors.
UNIT-II
Particle Physics : Particle interactions : basic features and their exchange particles, Classification of elementary particles, properties, decay modes of leptons and mesons, Antiparticles, charge conjugation Symmetries and Conservation principles, Lepton number, baryon number, Isospin, Hypercharge, Strangeness and charm, Gell-Mann Nishijima formula Concept of the quark model, color quantum number and gluons.
Origin and composition of Cosmic rays, Secondary cosmic rays, Effect of a magnetic field of the earth, Van Allen belts.
Particle accelerators: Cockcroft-Walton accelerator, Van-de Graaff generator, Tandem accelerator Linear accelerator, Cyclotron. Brief account of Syncrhrotron, Accelerator facilities available in India.