Mathematica Demos
These CDF files run in the Wolfram CDF Player, available as a free download.
| TOPICS / LECTURES | DEMONSTRATIONS | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
|
1. Introduction to Nuclear Physics (Lectures 1–2) |
Binding Energy from SEMF (CDF) | SEMF and Liquid Drop Model: B vs. A |
| Binding Energy (B/A) from SEMF (CDF) | SEMF and Liquid Drop Model: B/A vs. A | |
| Radioactive Decay Chain (CDF) | ||
|
2. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (Lectures 3–6) |
Uncertainty Principle for Waves (CDF) | Standing/Propagating wave vs. Wavepacket |
| Wave Packet (CDF) | Wave packet and its Fourier transform | |
|
3. Radioactive Decay, Part I (Lectures 7–8) |
Scattering and Tunneling (CDF) | Scattering and tunneling for a finite barrier. Change barrier height and length to change to probability of transmission. |
| Alpha decay (CDF) | Calculate the Coulomb barrier for various parent nuclide and fragments. Compare alpha to other decays. Find the decay rate (from tunneling probability and frequency) from Gamow theory. | |
| Alpha decay and alternative decays (CDF) | Tunneling through the Coulomb barrier. The barrier height depends on Z. Vary the alpha’s Q value. | |
|
4. Energy Levels (Lectures 9–13) |
Bound States in an Infinite Potential Well (CDF) | Energy eigenstates for an infinite well, between [0,L] |
| Bound States in a Square Potential Well (CDF) | Energy eigenvalues and energy eigenstates for a finite well, between [-a/2, a/2] | |
| Spherical Harmonics (CDF) | Absolute value and real part of spherical harmonics | |
| 5. Nuclear Structure (Lectures 14–16) | Shell Filling in the Nuclear Shell Model (CDF) | Filling of the shell model levels. (Note that some level order is different than in Krane.) |
|
6. Time Evolution in Quantum Mechanics (Lectures 17–18) |
Sinc Function for Fermi’s Golden Rule (CDF) | Delta function as a limit of the sinc function |
|
7. Radioactive Decay, Part II (Lectures 19–20) |
No demos | |
|
8. Applications of Nuclear Science (Lectures 21–25) |
Neutron Scattering (CDF) | |
| Coulomb (Rutherford) Scattering (CDF) |
Other Demos
Quantum Tunneling and Wave Packets, from the PhET Interactive Simulations Project at the University of Colorado.
