Fall 2024 - NUSC 344 D100
Nucleosynthesis and Distribution of the Elements (3)
Class Number: 1803
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
-
Course Times + Location:
Sep 4 – Oct 11, 2024: Tue, Thu, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
BurnabyOct 16 – Dec 3, 2024: Tue, Thu, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby -
Exam Times + Location:
Dec 17, 2024
Tue, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
Burnaby
-
Instructor:
Krzysztof Starosta
starosta@sfu.ca
778-782-8861
Office: C9041
-
Prerequisites:
Completion of 60 units in a science program, including first year calculus, chemistry and physics.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Formation and distribution of the chemical elements in the early universe, in present stellar environments and in the solar system; elemental abundances and isotopic ratios; and radiometric chronology techniques. Quantitative.
COURSE DETAILS:
Mode of Instruction:
3 lecture hours/week; 1 tutorial hour/week
Course Description:
This course is a quantitative introduction to nuclear and astrophysical processes by which the chemical elements have been and are formed and distributed throughout the Universe. Topics include fundamentals of nuclear reactions, derivation of thermonuclear reactions rates, cosmic abundances of elements and isotopes, Big-Bang nucleosynthesis, fundamentals of stellar structure and evolution, stellar nucleosynthesis up to the iron abundance peak, nucleosynthesis of heavy elements beyond the iron abundance peak, and experiments in nuclear science relevant to nucleosynthesis. This course can be applied towards fulfilling the requirements of the Nuclear Science Minor program.
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
The course will provide students with the knowledge enabling them to:
- List elementary particles of the Standard Model and recognize fundamental interactions organizing them into subatomic and atomic structures. Recognize the length, mass, and energy scales in fundamental interactions, atomic and subatomic processes.
- Define nuclear fusion and fission reactions based on the average binding energy per nucleon.
- Perform nuclear reaction heat/threshold calculations and categorize nuclear reactions as exo- or endo-thermic as well as spontaneous or not-spontaneous.
- Describe the impact on nuclear reactions of conservation laws of mass/energy, momentum, angular momentum, charge, lepton, and baryon number.
- Explain suppression of nuclear reaction rates by the mass/energy threshold, Coulomb barrier, and the centrifugal barrier.
- Analyze the analogy between first-order nuclear and chemical reactions and differentiate between nuclear reaction cross section and chemical reaction rate constant.
- Perform computations of kinetics for isotope production at constant rate with decay losses.
- For reactants in a gas phase identify the need for an ensemble average of a nuclear reaction rate and explain the concept of the average thermonuclear reaction rate per pair.
- List the evidence for the expanding Universe, characterize phases of the expansion and discuss the origin of basic cosmological scenarios for the fate of the Universe.
- Define products and explain kinetics of the Big-Bang nucleosynthesis including the reaction network and processes of its initiation and termination.
- Explain production of 4He in Main Sequence stars and discuss the evidence for neutrino oscillations from the pp-process operating in the Sun.
- Demonstrate that the CNO cycle is a catalytic cycle for conversion of protons to 4He and list the products synthesized in a star operating the CNO cycle.
- Analyze the impact of resonant nuclear reactions for 12C production in the triple-alpha process and 16O survival during Helium burning in Red Giant stars.
- Describe advanced burning nucleosynthesis and production of isotopes up to the iron abundance peak.
- Discuss scenarios for nucleosynthesis of heavy elements beyond the iron abundance peak.
Grading
- Homework assignments 20%
- In-class exams (15% each) 30%
- Final Exam 50%
NOTES:
Students are expected to review the lecture notes and to complete reading assignments listed in the course schedule prior to the corresponding lecture. Early completion of reading assignments provides for students opportunities to communicate to the instructor problems with understanding of the material in the reading prior to the lecture. A special care will be taken by the instructor to address these problematic topics during the lecture. Example quantitative problems will be discussed and solved during tutorial sessions. Further help may be provided during office hours.
REQUIREMENTS:
There are 10 homework assignments, two in-class exams and one final exam, detailed schedule will be provided on the class web page on Canvas.
Materials
MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:
Lecture notes, list of references, table of fundamental constants, and notes for reviews of topics in Quantum Mechanics will be available from the class web page on Canvas.
REQUIRED READING:
Choppin, Liljenzin, Rydberg & Ekberg. Radiochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry. 4th Edition. 2013. Publisher: Academic Press.
- The required textbook is: Radiochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry by G. Choppin, J-O. Liljenzin and J. Rydberg, forth edition, 2013, Academic Press ISBN: 978-0-12-405897-2; specifically material in chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 17 will be covered. This textbook is available from the SFU library as an electronic book, and it can be downloaded in a PDF format. Reading assignments in the schedule are from this textbook. The same required textbook will be used for other Nuclear Science courses at SFU: NUSC341 and NUSC342).
RECOMMENDED READING:
Claus E. Rolfs & William S. Rodney. Cauldrons in the Cosmos. 2005. Publisher: University of Chicago Press.
- (Advanced recommended textbook is C. Rolfs and W. Rodney, Cauldrons in the Cosmos, The University of Chicago Press, QB464.R65, ISBN: 0226724565 or ISBN: 0226724573 (paper back version).
P. Atkins, J. de Paula, and J. Keeler, Atkins' Physical Chemistry, 12th Edition, 2022, Publisher: Oxford University Press.
ISBN: 9780192592019
For comprehensive review of selected topics of Nuclear Chemistry the Handbook of Nuclear Chemistry will be used. The test is available online from the SFU library and can be also downloaded in the PDF format.
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.