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Department of Physics, Department of Chemistry | Faculty of Science Simon Fraser University Calendar | Fall 2024

Nuclear Science Minor

This program is offered jointly by the Departments of Chemistry and Physics.

Minimum Grade Requirement

Students wishing to enroll in physics courses must obtain a C- grade or better in prerequisite courses.

Program Requirements

Students complete a total of 14 upper division units, chosen from

CHEM 364 - Quantum Chemistry (3)

Fundamentals of quantum mechanics and its principal results and techniques as applied to atoms and molecules: atomic structure, molecular bonding, rotations and vibrations of molecules, symmetry of atomic and molecular orbitals. Prerequisite: CHEM 260 or PHYS 285, MATH 232, and MATH 251, all with a minimum grade of C-. Recommended: MATH 260 or MATH 310. Students with credit for CHEM 464 may not take this course for further credit. PHYS 385 will be accepted in lieu of CHEM 364.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Gary Leach
Sep 4 – Oct 11, 2024: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Oct 16 – Dec 3, 2024: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
Burnaby
CHEM 462 - Molecular Spectroscopy (3)

Topics may include: Atomic spectra, vibrational and rotational spectra of diatomic and polyatomic molecules, the Raman effect, nuclear and electron spin resonance, symmetry classification of molecules and their energy levels, UV-Vis-NIR absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Prerequisite: CHEM 364 or PHYS 385, with a minimum grade of C-. Quantitative.

NUSC 341 - Introduction to Radiochemistry (3)

Brief description of the nucleus and its decays and reactions; interaction of radiation with matter; nuclear instrumentation; radioisotopes in chemistry; activation analysis and related analytical techniques; other applications of nuclear techniques; nuclear reactors and nuclear fusion. Prerequisite: Completion of 60 units in a science program, including first year calculus, chemistry and physics. Quantitative.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Corina Andreoiu
Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Mon, Wed, Fri, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
Oct 15, 2024: Tue, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
D101 Corina Andreoiu
Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Wed, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
Burnaby
NUSC 342 - Introduction to Nuclear Science (3)

Review of nuclear properties and systematics. Properties of the nuclear force; shell model and structure of complex nuclei, nuclear decay via particle emission and spontaneous fission; experimental description of nuclear reactions; nucleon-nucleus and heavy ion reactions. Prerequisite: NUSC 341, with a minimum grade of C-, or permission of the Department. Recommended: MATH 251. Quantitative.

NUSC 344 - Nucleosynthesis and Distribution of the Elements (3)

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. Prerequisite: Completion of 60 units in a science program, including first year calculus, chemistry and physics. Quantitative.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Krzysztof Starosta
Sep 4 – Oct 11, 2024: Tue, Thu, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
Oct 16 – Dec 3, 2024: Tue, Thu, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
NUSC 346 - Radiochemistry Laboratory (3)

Introduction to the techniques of radiochemistry; proportional and Geiger counters; sample preparations and half-life measurement; synthesis and separation of labelled compounds; beta and gamma-ray spectroscopy. Prerequisite: NUSC 341 with a minimum grade of C-. Quantitative.

NUSC 444 - Special Topics in Nuclear Science (3)

Advanced topics in nuclear science. Prerequisite: NUSC 342 or 442, with a minimum grade of C- or permission of the Department.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Caterina Ramogida
Sep 4 – Oct 11, 2024: Tue, Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Oct 16 – Dec 3, 2024: Tue, Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
PHYS 313 - Special Relativity (3)

A detailed presentation of Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity and how it revolutionized physics. Topics covered include: constancy of the speed of light, Lorentz transformations, time dilation, length contraction, relativistic paradoxes, space-time diagrams, relativistic particle kinematics and dynamics, electromagnetism as a relativistic phenomenon, and an introduction to general relativity. Prerequisite: PHYS 121 or 126 or 141 (or PHYS 102 with a minimum grade of B); MATH 232 or 240; both with a minimum grade of C-. Quantitative.

PHYS 385 - Quantum II (3)

Stern-Gerlach experiments and the structure of quantum mechanics; operators; angular momentum and spin; Schrödinger equation and examples for time evolution; systems of two spin-½ particles; density operators; wave mechanics in one dimension including the double slit experiment, particle in a box, scattering in one dimension, tunnelling; one-dimensional harmonic oscillator; coherent states. Prerequisite: MATH 252 or MATH 254; MATH 260; PHYS 255; PHYS 285 or ENSC 380 or CHEM 260. All prerequisite courses require a minimum grade of C-. Recommended Prerequisite: PHYS 211. Quantitative.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Daria Ahrensmeier
Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Mon, Wed, Fri, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Oct 15, 2024: Tue, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
D101 Daria Ahrensmeier
Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Wed, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
Burnaby
PHYS 485 - Particle Physics (3)

Physics of elementary particles. Symmetries, strong interactions, electromagnetic interactions, weak interaction. Prerequisite: PHYS 385 or CHEM 364; PHYS 313 or permission from instructor for non-physics students; all with a minimum grade of C-. Quantitative.

and could include one of:

CHEM 482 - Directed Study in Advanced Topics of Chemistry (3)

Directed reading in a topic chosen in consultation with a supervisor. Admission requires selection of a faculty supervisor and submission of a study topic to the department a least one month prior to the start of the term in which the course will be taken. May repeat for credit. Prerequisite: Permission of the Department. Normally taken during the fourth year of study.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D001 TBD
D002 TBD
D003 TBD
D004 TBD
D005 TBD
NUSC 482 - Directed Study in Advanced Topics in Nuclear (3)

Directed reading in a topic chosen in consultation with a supervisor. Admission requires selection of a faculty supervisor and submission of a study topic to the department at least one month prior to the start of the term in which the course will be taken. Normally taken during the fourth year of study. Prerequisite: Permission of the Department.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D001 TBD
D002 TBD
D003 TBD

and must include at least nine units of NUSC-designated courses.