Master 2 – Nuclei, Atoms and Collisions (NAC)

Both courses aim to provide, alongside specific disciplinary knowledge, a solid foundation of professional skills. These are obtained with a timetable alternating theoretical courses and practical work.

The Nuclei, Atoms and Collisions (NAC) research programme, with its wide choice of options and its work placement in a research laboratory, allows the development of three different profiles of researchers in microscopic physics:

Theoretical nuclear and atomic physics

1^st semester

from Septembre 1^st to January 31

Internship · 4 months | part time 12 ECTS

Atoms and clusters · 6 credits

Data Analysis and Machine Learning · 6 credits

Theoretical nuclear and atomic physics

Experimental nuclear physics

Application for therapy

2^nd semester

Master Thesis · 30 credits | 6 months

Voir le programme détaillé (en anglais)

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Theoretical nuclear and atomic physics

Les objectifs spécifiques du parcours théorique peuvent être identifiés comme fournissant aux étudiants une préparation solide dans plusieurs aspects de la structure et de la dynamique nucléaires et atomiques, de l'astrophysique nucléaire et dans la théorie des interactions fondamentales.

Tous les cours sont dispensés en anglais. Le premier semestre correspond à un enseignement de base en physique atomique, nucléaire et de l'état solide. Une spécialisation progressive est réalisée au cours du deuxième semestre, où les étudiants approfondissent leurs compétences en informatique, sont initiés aux techniques de simulation de Monte Carlo et suivent des cours sur la mécanique quantique avancée et la théorie de la diffusion. Au troisième semestre, les étudiants suivent des cours spécialisés sur la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité pour les systèmes d'électrons et de nucléons, la modélisation ab-initio de la matière nucléaire à température nulle et finie, les techniques d'apprentissage automatique pour la théorie nucléaire et un cours sur les interactions fondamentales. Ils effectuent également un stage à temps partiel dans un laboratoire de recherche, où ils reçoivent une formation ciblée sur le sujet de théorie nucléaire spécifique correspondant à leur projet de recherche. Le quatrième semestre est consacré à la réalisation d'un mémoire de master en France ou à l'étranger en physique nucléaire ou atomique théorique.

Le parcours théorique a pour développement naturel une carrière académique et/ou une activité de recherche en physique nucléaire fondamentale, physique des particules et astrophysique. De plus, les compétences acquises et le haut niveau de préparation scientifique pourront offrir à ces étudiants des opportunités d'emploi dans tous les différents domaines nécessitant la modélisation, le stockage et l'analyse de données, le développement de progiciels et les domaines connexes. Une poursuite en doctorat est prévue.

Théorie des perturbations
Méthodes à plusieurs corps
Théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité
Méthodes ab-initio
Simulations de Monte-Carlo et techniques d'apprentissage automatique

Maîtrise des approches de recherche et de la rédaction scientifique
Maîtrise de l'anglais scientifique (y compris la certification CLES2)
Maîtrise de différents logiciels
Maîtrise de la programmation scientifique (C, C ++, Python) pour la modélisation et la simulation (déterministe et Monte Carlo)
Travail d'équipe

Dans le secteur universitaire : possibilité de poursuivre un doctorat en physique atomique, nucléaire ou subnucléaire théorique dans les universités et les institutions académiques telles que le CNRS ou le CEA
R&D dans le domaine des simulation numériques, de la gestion des données et le Big Data

Enseignement dans le secondaire
Doctorant, enseignement supérieur, universitaire
Ingénieur R&D

Experimental nuclear physics

L'objectif de ce parcours est la formation avancée de jeunes étudiants en physique nucléaire expérimentale, en particulier en utilisant les grands accélérateurs. La plupart des plus grands accélérateurs du monde sont des partenaires associés de ce Master et les étudiants auront l'occasion de visiter certaines de ces installations et d'interagir avec les principaux experts du domaine au niveau international. En outre, ce parcours vise à former à l'utilisation de détecteurs de particules et d'autres instruments expérimentaux pour l'étude de la physique des interactions fondamentales. Les étudiants apprendront également les techniques récentes d’expérimentation et d'analyse des données.

Tous les cours sont dispensés en anglais. Le premier semestre correspond à un enseignement de base en physique atomique, nucléaire et du solide. Une spécialisation progressive est réalisée au cours du deuxième semestre, où les étudiants approfondissent leurs compétences en informatique, sont initiés aux techniques de simulation de Monte Carlo, et suivent des cours sur les méthodes expérimentales avancées permettant d'explorer la matière à l'échelle femtométrique afin de dévoiler les caractéristiques de l’interaction forte. Au troisième semestre, les étudiants reçoivent des cours spécialisés sur les accélérateurs, les sources d'ions et les faisceaux, et sont chargés de la conception, du montage, du fonctionnement et de l'analyse des données d'un système de détection complet : ils se concentrent sur les corrélations, les outils mathématiques et statistiques, et l'utilisation de simulations. Ils effectuent également un stage à temps partiel dans un laboratoire de recherche, où ils reçoivent une formation ciblée sur le sujet spécifique en physique nucléaire, des particules ou des astroparticules correspondant à leur projet de recherche. Le quatrième semestre est consacré à la réalisation d'une thèse de master en France ou à l'étranger en physique nucléaire ou subnucléaire expérimentale.

Grâce à une formation de haut niveau sur les aspects généraux de la physique subatomique et aux compétences spécifiques expérimentales et techniques acquises, les étudiants peuvent se projeter vers différentes opportunités de carrière tant dans le secteur académique (recherche fondamentale en physique) que dans les départements R&D des industries dans tous les secteurs technologiques traitant des faisceaux d'ions, de l'acquisition de données et de l'instrumentation. Une poursuite en doctorat est prévue.

Structure et réactions nucléaires
Techniques d'instrumentation en imagerie
Spectroscopie
Détection des radiations et électronique associée
Accélération de faisceaux d'ions pour différentes applications
Développement de simulations numériques et analyse de données multiparamétriques
Apprentissage automatique

Maîtrise des approches de recherche et de la rédaction scientifique
Maîtrise de l'anglais scientifique (y compris la certification CLES2)
Maîtrise de différents logiciels
Maîtrise de la programmation scientifique (C, C ++, Python) pour la modélisation et la simulation (déterministe et Monte Carlo)
Travail d'équipe

Dans le secteur universitaire : possibilité de poursuivre un doctorat en physique atomique, nucléaire ou subnucléaire théorique dans les universités et les institutions académiques telles que le CNRS ou le CEA
R&D dans le domaine des simulation numériques, de la gestion des données et le Big Data

Doctorant, enseignement supérieur, universitaire
Ingénieur R&D

Application for therapy

Après avoir validé un socle de connaissances disciplinaires en physique générale et nucléaire (mécanique quantique, mécanique statistique, physique et astrophysique nucléaire), les étudiants de ce parcours suivent des cours avancés sur les diverses applications industrielles de la physique nucléaire, avec la participation de professionnels extérieurs. Tant dans les cours réguliers que dans les activités supplémentaires (projets, visites, école d’été sur l’instrumentation), les étudiants sont formés aux techniques expérimentales de pointe, aux techniques de détection, d’accélération et à l'analyse des données.

Tous les cours sont dispensés en anglais. Le premier semestre correspond à une formation de base en physique atomique, nucléaire et du solide. Une spécialisation progressive est réalisée au cours du second semestre, où les étudiants approfondissent les techniques expérimentales et suivent des cours d’ouverture qui couvrent les applications de la physique nucléaire dans les différents domaines industriels et médicaux. Pendant le troisième semestre, les étudiants reçoivent des cours spécialisés sur la dosimétrie, la radioprotection, la radiothérapie, et la physique des instruments médicaux. Ils effectuent un stage en alternance sur toute la durée du semestre dans un laboratoire de recherche ou une entreprise. Ensuite ils poursuivent avec un stage de 6 mois dans une université ou une entreprise en France ou à l’étranger, qui donne lieu à un mémoire de master en applications de la physique nucléaire.

La formation de haut niveau sur les aspects généraux de la physique subatomique et les compétences expérimentales et techniques spécifiques acquises dans ce parcours du Master concernant les différentes applications industrielles de la physique nucléaire et les enjeux sociétaux associés permettront aux étudiants d'accéder à des postes de direction dans des entreprises ou laboratoires traitant de radioprotection, gestion des déchets, protonthérapie et hadronthérapie, radioisotopes pour la médecine, archéométrie, instrumentation avancée, accélérateurs, etc. Une continuation en doctorat est également possible.

Techniques d'instrumentation en imagerie
Spectroscopie
Détection des radiations et électronique associée
Dosimétrie et radioprotection
Accélération des faisceaux d'ions pour différentes applications
Développement de simulations numériques et d'analyses de données multiparamétriques, Machine learning
Neutronique et gestion des déchets nucléaires
Réacteurs à fusion et à fission
Radiothérapie et hadronthérapie

Maîtrise des approches de recherche et de la rédaction scientifique
Maîtrise de l'anglais scientifique (y compris la certification CLES2)
Maîtrise de différents logiciels
Maîtrise de la programmation scientifique (C, C ++, Python) pour la modélisation et la simulation (déterministe et Monte Carlo)
Travail d'équipe

Dans le secteur universitaire : possibilité de poursuivre un doctorat en recherche appliquée en physique nucléaire dans les universités et les institutions académiques telles que le CNRS ou le CEA
La R&D dans les applications nucléaires civiles et médicales (gestion des déchets, réacteurs de fusion, radiothérapie et hadronthérapie)

Recherche et développement, Chef de projet, Ingénieur d'étude, ingénieur de recherche
Doctorant, enseignement supérieur, universitaire

Atoms and clusters

Teachers:

Prof. Jean-Yves Chesnel, CIMAP - jean-yves.chesnel@unicaen.fr
Dr. Patrick Rousseau, CIMAP - prousseau@ganil.fr
Dr. Alain Méry, CIMAP - mery@ganil.fr
Dr. Michael Fromager, CIMAP - michael.fromager@unicaen.fr

Course Structure: The course (6 CFU, 40h) is taught in english through lectures.

Attendance of Lessons: Attendance at the course is compulsory

Atomic structure: (5 h, J.-Y. Chesnel)
- General aspects for an advanced quantum description of atomic systems, hyperfine structure eigenstates and energies
- Wave functions and energy levels of the H atom and hydrogen-like ions with relativistic correction; Application to the energy levels of alkali atoms
- Wave functions and energy levels of the He atom and helium-like ions: spectral terms and fine structure in the L-S and j-j coupling schemes; Application to the energy levels of alkaline earth atoms
Molecular structure: (5 h, J.-Y. Chesnel)
- General properties of molecules and the main approaches for their quantum description Electronic states of molecules: Application of the LCAO method to homonuclear diatomic molecules (reminder) and its generalization to the cases of heteronuclear diatomic molecules and of polyatomic molecules,
- Demonstration of the quantum nature of the chemical bonding, Molecular terms and symmetries
Ion-atom collisions (6 h, J.-Y. Chesnel)
- Multiple electron capture in slow ion-atom collisions:
  - Mechanisms for charge exchange: monoelectronic processes, dielectronic processes & electron correlation
  - Transition probabilities and cross sections: classical over-the-barrier model, method of coupled states and its approximation within the Landau-Zener model
  - Application to the double electron capture in AZ+ + He (Z=6-10) and N6,7+ + Ne collisions: projectile velocity dependence of the cross sections and identification of the capture mechanisms
- Multiple ionization and excitation in fast ion-atom collisions:
  - Ionization and excitation mechanisms: uncorrelated, correlated and shake processes, dependence on the perturbation parameter (projectile charge over velocity ratio q/v)
  - Ionization and excitation probabilities within the Plane Wave Born Approximation (PWBA)
  - Formation of inner-shell vacancies via ionization/excitation: Application to the formation of hollow lithium ions, Identification of the mechanisms leading to the formation of the S and P doubly excited states of Li+
Ion-molecule/cluster collisions (10 h, P. Rousseau)
- Elementary processes: energy and charge transfer
- A textbook case ion-fullerene collision:
  - Ionization and charge stability
  - Fragmentation dynamics
- Clusters:
  - Nature of bonds
  - Effects of the environment: charge localization, energy redistribution, influence of the intermolecular bonds, reactivity inside of clusters induced by ion collisions

Production, spectroscopy and detection (9h):
- Molecular and cluster sources: supersonic jet, condensation cluster source, electrospray ionization
- Atom and ion traps: magneto optical trap, RF traps
- Ion and electron spectroscopy: mass spectrometers, electrostatic energy analyzers, recoil ion momentum spectroscopy, velocity map imaging
- Ion detectors: channeltron, microchannel plates, position sensitive detectors
Femtosecond lasers for atomic and molecular physics (5h):
- Mode-locked lasers, CPA technique, laser chains
- Characterization of femtosecond pulses
- Applications: acceleration of charged particles, attosecond pulse generation, pump-probe technique

Teaching material is provided by the professors on the dedicated webpages

The detailed calendar of the course and classroom information is updated daily on the ZIMBRA calendar of the students after enrollment. A visit of the low energy beamline facility ARIBE/GANIL and of different molecular physics setups of the CIMAP laboratory will also be organized.

Assessment takes the form of three independent written exams of a duration 1:30 each, covering the three different parts of the course (lessons by Prof.Chesnel, lessons by Prof.Rousseau, lessons by Profs.Méry and Fromager). They consist of practical exercices based on the tutorials worked out in the classroom. Correct if needed
The final mark is an average of the three evaluations with equal weight.
To pass the semester, you must obtain an overall average of at least 10 out of 20 in all teaching units. The individual marks are averaged with a coefficient proportional to the CFU of the teaching unit.
If you have not passed a course or course unit, a make-up session is organised. However, if you have passed one or more courses or teaching units, you retain your result and do not have to retake these units.

Data Analysis and Machine Learning

Responsable: Dr Antonin Vacheret

Contact: vacheret@lpccaen.in2p3.fr

Course Structure: The course (6 CFU) is taught in english through lectures (20 h) and teaching interactive laboratory classes (20 h).

Attendance of Lessons: Attendance at the course and practical lab sessions is compulsory

The rapid rise of Artifical Intelligence (AI) in the last few decades has been quite remarkable. Machine learning, a sub-field of AI has found applications in many of the tasks related to modelisation and data analysis found in Nuclear and Particle Physics data. The large amount of multi-dimensional data commonly processed can be deciphered using ML methods which in many areas have surpassed traditional approaches. Those methods enable the learning of complicated concepts and dependencies based on representation of the data.
In this course, we will take a look at the basic concept and methods of machine learning from the point of view of a physicist, exploring and using datasets that are commonly found in theoritical and experimental physics. We will gradually move from simple architectures to more advanced one and cover the most common applications and pitfall of ML with the aim of giving all the basic knowledge needed to start applying those tools.
The course will cover the following concepts and methods :

Statistical analysis and optimization of data;
Visualisation of data and embedding;
Basic concepts, expectation values, variance, covariance, correlation functions and errors;
Shallow and deep neural nets;
Architecture components and current models;
Classification and regression tasks; Foundation models;
Central elements of Bayesian statistics and modeling;
Hypothesis testing, Markov chains, Metropolis-Hastings algorithm.

All the above topics will be supported by examples, hands-on exercises and project work.
Basic knowledge in programming and numerics is required to follow the course.

The course introduces a variety of central algorithms and methods essential for studies of data analysis and machine learning. The course is tutorial and project-based and through the various projects, normally two, the students will be exposed to fundamental research problems in these fields, with the aim to reproduce realistic scientific results. The students will learn to develop and structure comprehensive machine learning codes and get acquainted with computing practices and learn to handle solving scientific problems with ML. A good scientific and ethical conduct is emphasized throughout the course. More specifically, after this course you will :

Understand the basics about data analysis, selection and visualisation.
Learn the basics of building and training various type of Machine Learning models.
Have learned about Transformers and Foundation models.
Have learned how to implement statistical methods for hypothesis testing.
Have learned to use some of the most common Python libraries used in Artificial intelligence.
Have gained knowledge of central aspects of Monte Carlo methods, Markov chains Monte Carlo and their possible applications.
Be able to use the most common Machine Learning methods to new problems.

Christian Robert and George Casella, Monte Carlo Statistical Methods, Springer

Peter Hoff, A first course in Bayesian statistical models, Springer
Kevin Murphy, Machine Learning: A Probabilistic Perspective, MIT Press
Christopher M. Bishop, Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning, Springer
David J.C. MacKay, Information Theory, Inference, and Learning Algorithms, Cambridge University Press
Trevor Hastie, Robert Tibshirani, and Jerome Friedman, The Elements of Statistical Learning, Springer
David Barber, Bayesian Reasoning and Machine Learning, Cambridge University Press
Detailed lecture notes and tutorials are additionnally provided by the professor on the dedicated webpage

The detailed calendar of the course and classroom information is updated daily on the ZIMBRA calendar of the students after enrollment

The evaluation is based on two large projects which the students have to hand in some weeks after the course ends. The students are allowed to collaborate in groups of two to three students per group.
To pass the semester, you must obtain an overall average of at least 10 out of 20 in all teaching units. The individual marks are averaged with a coefficient proportional to the CFU of the teaching unit.
If you have not passed a course or course unit, a make-up session is organised. However, if you have passed one or more courses or teaching units, you retain your result and do not have to retake these units.

Density Functional Theory and Applications

Teacher: Dr. Julie Douady, CIMAP - julie.douady@ensicaen.fr
Course Structure: The course (4 CFU) is taught in english through lectures (15 h) and teaching interactive laboratory classes (12 h).
Attendance of Lessons: Attendance at the course and lab sessions is compulsory

Chapter 1 : General background
1. Introduction of electronic structure calculationsI. Introduction: Computational chemistry ; Ab initio quantum theories ; Computable properties
2. The electronic problem: Schrödinger Wave Equation (SWE) ; Hamiltonian ; Atomic units
3. The Born-Oppenheimer approximation: Heavier nuclei ; Electronic Hamiltonian ; Limitations
4. The Hydrogenic ions : Hydrogen atom : exact solution (AO) ; Hydrogenoïds atoms
5. The Hydrogen molecule ion H2+ Molecular orbital MO = LCAO ; Variation principle
6. Many-electrons atoms : He atom , Approx. Non interacting electrons ; Symmetric wave-function + Pauli principle ; Slater Determinant SD
Chapter 2 : Hartree-Fock Theory
1. Electronic structure problem : Time-independent SWE ; BO approximation ; Electronic Hamiltonian ; Ab initio quantum theories
2. The Molecular Orbital approximation : Hartree-Fock theory ; Hartree wavefunction ; Pauli principle ; Hartree-Fock wavefunction ; Spin-orbitals
3. The Hartree-Fock equations: The HF energy ; The Coulomb and Exchange operators ; The Fock operator ; The HF equations
4. Minimization of the energy of a single SD. The Lagrange’s method; The canonical HF equations
5. The total energy and Koopman’s theorem Orbital energies; Ionization potential / electron affinity
6. Restricted and unrestricted HF theories: Electron spin; Pros / Cons of UHF
7. The Roothaan equations : LCAO approximation ;The Self-Consistent field method (SCF)
Chapter 3 : Density Functional Theory
1. Introduction : Time-independent SWE ; BO approximation
2. Electronic structure/Motivations : Ab initio methods ; Philosophy of the DFT theory
3. Density functionals: The electron density ; Functional ; Density functional
4. The Hohenberg-Khon theorems : First theorem ; Second theorem ; Universal HK functional
5. The Kohn-Sham formulation : Philosophy ; The KS energy ; The KS equations ; The self-consistent scheme ; The HF and KS equations
6. Approximation of exchange-correlation functional : The uniform electron gas (UEG) ; The Local density approximation (LDA) ; Gradient corrected functionals (GGA)
7. Strengths of DFT / Where DFT goes wrong: Multi-reference problems ; The Self Interaction
Chapter 4 Post Hartree-Fock Theories
1. Electron correlation energy: Problem of the mean field theories ; Goals for correlated methods
2. Moller Plosset Theory (MPn): Many Body Perturbation Theory (MBPT); Moller-Plesset Theory (MPn)
3. Configuration Interaction (CI): Principle of Interaction Configuration; Full/Truncated Configuration Interaction ; Problem of size consistency
4. Coupled-Cluster Method (CC): Principle ; Truncated Coupled Cluster methods ; Advantages of the CC methods
5. Multi-Configuration Self-Consistent Field Method (MCSCF) : Complete Active Space (CASSCF) ; Restricted Active Space (RASSCF)
6. Importance of the Basis set : Slater-Type Orbitals (STO’s) ; Gaussian-Type Orbitals (GTO’s) ; Contracted Gaussian-Type Orbitals (CGTO’s) ; People-style basis sets ; Dunning’s Correlation-Consistent Basis Sets; Basis Set Superposition Error (BSSE)

During the lab sessions , students will perform 3 different projects using a quantum chemistry code (ORCA).

Project n°1–Koopman’s theorem

The first project consists of calculating the ionization energies of several atoms using the Koopman theorem and comparing them with experimental values. These energies will be calculated at the Unrestricted-Hartree Fock level in the Born-Oppenheimer adiabatic approximation. The atoms studied are as follows: He, Li, Be, C, O, Ne, Na, Mg and Ar. UHF calculations will be made with three different basis sets: STO-3G (labelled basis 1), 3-21G (labelled basis 2) and 6-31G (labelled basis 3) with the ORCA software.

Project n°2–Bond breaking in Li2

In this project we will investigate the bond-breaking reaction in Li2 molecule by calculating its potential energy curve (PEC) at DFT level (LDA, PBE, B1LYP and M06) for the lowest singlet state. We will compare the equilibrium distance and the potential depth obtained at the DFT level with the UHF and FCI data. The energies will be calculated in the Born-Oppenheimer adiabatic approximation with the 6-31G basis set implemented in the ORCA software.

Project n°3– Geometry optimization and properties of molecular systems

In this project, we will study the properties of the equilibrium geometry of different molecular systems: the diatomic molecule CO and the butadiene C4H6.
For the CO molecule, you will compute the dipole of the equilibrium geometry obtained with three basis sets: STO-3G, 3-21G and 6-31G at different levels of theory: UHF, DFT-LDA, DFT-PBE, DFT-B3LYP and MP2. For the 3-21G basis set you will also compute the vibrational frequency of the equilibrium geometry. You will compare your results to the experimental data.
The butadiene has 3 conformers depending on the dihedral angle value between the C atoms. These isomers are called: trans, gauche and cis. You will study the stability of each one by comparing the energies of each structure that you will have previously optimized at DFT-B3LYP level. These optimizations will be performed with two basis sets STO-3G and 3-21G and you will compare your results with CCSD(T) and DFT-M062X calculations and experimental data.

Materials are provided by the professors on the dedicated webpage

The detailed calendar of the course and classroom information is updated daily on the webmail calendar of the students after enrollment

The four chapters of the theoretical course provide the foundations for the success of the three digital projects. A written report in PDF format (by hand or on a computer) is expected for each of them and will be submitted on the Ecampus platform at the end of the course. Each written report includes 3 distinct parts: a “theoretical” part (questions on the theory(s) used HF, DFT, etc.), a part for the presentation and analysis of the obtained results and a final conclusion. The final score is an equally weighted average of the evaluation of the written reports of the three projects.
To pass the semester, you must obtain an overall average of at least 10 out of 20 in all teaching units. The individual marks are averaged with a coefficient proportional to the CFU of the teaching unit.
If you have not passed a course or course unit, a make-up session is organised. However, if you have passed one or more courses or teaching units, you retain your result and do not have to retake these units.

Advanced Nuclear Theory

Teachers:

Prof.Francesca Gulminelli, LPC UMR6534, francesca.gulminelli@unicaen.fr
Dr.Piet Van Isacker, GANIL, isacker@ganil.fr

Course Structure: The course is taught in english through lectures (6 CFU, 30 h).
Attendance of Lessons: Attendance at the course is compulsory

Symmetries (10h)
1. Symmetry in Quantum Many-Body Systems
  1. Symmetry in Quantum Mechanics
    1. Symmetry and Degeneracy
    2. Selection Rules
  2. Dynamical Symmetries in Quantum Many-Body Systems
    1. Many-Particle States in Second Quantisation
    2. Dynamical Algebras
2. Symmetry in the Shell Model
  1. The Nuclear Shell Model
  2. Pairing and SU(2)
    1. Seniority in a Single-j Shell
    2. Richardson–Gaudin Approach
  3. Deformation and SU(3)
    1. The Collective Model
    2. Wigner’s SU(4) Symmetry
    3. Elliott’s SU(3) Symmetry
3. Symmetry in the Interacting Boson Model
  1. The Interacting Boson Model
  2. Dynamical Symmetries
  3. Geometry
  4. Quantum Phase Transitions
  5. Partial Dynamical Symmetriesb.
Nuclei and nuclear matter at finite temperature (20h)
1. Introduction
  1. Finite temperature, why ?
  2. Position of the problem (reminder of quantum statistical mechanics)
2. The shell model approach
  1. Basic ingredients
  2. Thermodynamic averages with one-body Hamiltonians
  3. Towards realistic quantum Monte Carlo
3. The density functional approach
  1. Mean field as a variational theory
  2. The bulk approximation
4. Phase transitions in nuclear matter
  1. Phase transitions and instabilities (first order phase transitions with one-dimensional order parameters, applications: the phase diagram of nuclear matter, crystallization of white dwarfs, transition to the quark-gluon plasma in ultra-dense matter
  2. Instabilities and finite size fluctuations (applications to fragmentation and to multicomponent astrophysical plasmas)

Detailed lecture notes and tutorials are provided by the professors on the dedicated webpage

The detailed calendar of the course and classroom information is updated daily on the webmail calendar of the students after enrollment

Exercices covering the different parts of the course are given by the professors at the beginning of the course, and discussed in the classroom through the different lessons. Individual solution sheets are requested at the end of the semester. The evaluation marks are weighted (1/3 for the symmetries part, 2/3 for the finite temperature part) to give the final grade of the teaching unit.
To pass the semester, you must obtain an overall average of at least 10 out of 20 in all teaching units. The individual marks are averaged with a coefficient proportional to the CFU of the teaching unit.
If you have not passed a course or course unit, a make-up session is organised. However, if you have passed one or more courses or teaching units, you retain your result and do not have to retake these units.

Fundamental Interactions

Teacher: Dr. Leendert Hayen LPC UMR 6534 - hayen@lpccaen.in2p3.fr
Course Structure: The course is taught in english through lectures (2 CFU, 15 h).
Attendance of Lessons: Attendance at the course is compulsory

Introduction
- 1.1 Historical review of the Standard Model
- 1.2 The discovery of particles and fundamental bosons
- 1.3 Fundamental fermions and bosons in the Standard Model
Properties of Fundamental Interactions
- 2.1 Introduction
- 2.2 The gravitational interaction
- 2.3 The electromagnetic interaction
- 2.4 The weak interaction
- 2.5 The strong interaction
Invariance Principles and Conservation Laws
- 3.1 Introduction
- 3.2 Invariance in classical and quantum mechanics
- 3.3 Continuous transformations: Translations and Rotations
- 3.4 Discrete transformations: Parity, Charge Conjugation, Time Reversal
- 3.5 CP and CPT
The Electromagnetic Interaction
- 4.1 The interaction between electric charges and the EM coupling constant
- 4.2 Concepts of quantum field theory
- 4.3 Transition probabilities in perturbation theory (reminder)
- 4.4 The bosonic propagator
- 4.5 Cross-sections and lifetimes
- 4.6 Feynman diagrams
- 4.7 Examples of electromagnetic processes
- 4.8 Tests of QED
The Weak Interaction
- 5.1 Introduction
- 5.2 Nuclear beta decay and neutron decay
- 5.3 The Fermi coupling constant from muon decay
- 5.4 Lepton families
- 5.5 Parity violation in the weak interactions
- 5.6 Universality of the weak Interactions
- 5.7 The six quarks and the Cabibbo–Kobayashi–Maskawa Matrix
- 5.8 Tests of the Standard Model in beta decay
The Strong Interactions at Low Energies
- 6.1 Hadrons and quarks
- 6.2 Proton-Neutron symmetry and isospin
- 6.3 Low energy hadron-hadron collisions
- 6.4 Antibaryons
- 6.5 Production and decay of strange particles
- 6.6 Classification of hadrons made of u; d; s quarks
CP Violation
- 7.1 The matter-antimatter asymmetry problem
- 7.2 Discovery of CP violation
- 7.3 Formal description of CP-Violation
- 7.4 CP and T violations
- 7.5 Precision measurements at low energies
Physics beyond the Standard Model
- 8.1 Introduction
- 8.2 Grand Unification and proton decay
- 8.3 Supersymmetry
- 8.4 Composite Models

Materials are provided by the professors on the dedicated webpage

The detailed calendar of the course and classroom information is updated daily on the webmail calendar of the students after enrollment

Assessment takes the form of a final written exam of a duration 1:30, with practical exercices and questions relating to qualifying points of the various parts of the program. To pass the semester, you must obtain an overall average of at least 10 out of 20 in all teaching
units. The individual marks are averaged with a coefficient proportional to the CFU of the teaching unit.
If you have not passed a course or course unit, a make-up session is organised. However, if you have passed one or more courses or teaching units, you retain your result and do not have to retake these units.

Design of nuclear experiments

Responsable: Dr.Julien Gibelin, LPC UMR 6534 gibelin@unicaen.fr

Course Structure: The course (4 CFU) is taught in english through lectures (15 h) and teaching interactive laboratory classes (15 h).
Attendance of Lessons: Attendance at the course and lab sessions is compulsory

From the physics problem to its experimental realization. Illustration of the pros and cons of some technical choices, using recentpublications in the field of nuclear structure.

Techniques and detectors associated to the different kind of particle (3h)
From reaction to structure (10h)
1. The different types of reactions, in particular: Coulomb excitation, inelastic scattering, transfer reaction, knock-out/breakup... (2h)
2. Choose the right tool and the right reaction: or why a given reaction/detector system will or not ne suitable to extract the measurement of interest (4h)
3. How to extract the observables of interest: (4h)
  1. What kind of analysis has to be done
  2. How to estimate the background (or get rid of it)
  3. Can the result be model independent ?
Errors estimate or how to have a constructive criticism of a published result (2h)

Design, mounting, running and data analysis of a complete detectorsystem: focusing on correlation, mathematical/statistical tools anduse of simulations.

The students, in group of three, will have to propose with the material at their disposal (detectors, electronics, sources) a small nuclear or particle physics experiment. They will have to build the setup themselves and test it before performing the measurement. As for a professional experiment, they will have to demonstrate, through calculation or simulation and eventually preliminary tests, its feasibility. They will then analyze the data and simulations will also be necessary to interpret their results.

Materials are provided by the professor on the dedicated webpage.

The detailed calendar of the course and classroom information is updated daily on the ZIMBRA calendar of the students after enrollment

The examination consists of a written exam on the contents of the course, and an evaluation of the experimental project.
To pass the semester, you must obtain an overall average of at least 10 out of 20 in all teaching units. The individual marks are averaged with a coefficient proportional to the CFU of the teaching unit.
If you have not passed a course or course unit, a make-up session is organised. However, if you have passed one or more courses or teaching units, you retain your result and do not have to retake these units.

Ions Sources and Beams

Teacher: Dr.Antoine de Roubin, LPC UMR 6534, deroubin@lpccaen.in2p3.fr
Course Structure: The course is taught in english through lectures (2 CFU, 10 h).
Attendance of Lessons: Attendance at the course is compulsory

The aim of the course is to give to students an overview of the standard techniques used at accelerator facilities to:

Produce high-intensity stable ion beams,
Accelerate them to energies relevant to the production of radioactive ions by means of fusion-evaporation and fragmentation reactions,
Separate them from contaminants using in-flight separators,
Obtain high-purity radioactive ion samples at very-low energy by means of gas cells, resonant laser spectroscopy, high resolution mass separators, and ion traps,
Perform high-precision beta-decay and mass measurements.

The introduction to the course gives the physics motivations of fundamental interaction studies with low-energy beta decaying nuclei. Two representative radioactive isotopes, namely ⁹⁸In and ³⁰S, are then used as examples and guide lines to describe the state-of-the-art techniques that are currently and plan to be implemented at the GANIL-SPIRAL2 facility to produce and study them.

Materials are provided by the professor on the dedicated webpage

The detailed calendar of the course and classroom information is updated daily on the ZIMBRA calendar of the students after enrollment

The course evaluation consists in the oral presentation of a simulation work performed by the students using the LISE++ code, used worldwide to evaluate the production rate and purity of radioactive ions at in-flight separator facilities.
To pass the semester, you must obtain an overall average of at least 10 out of 20 in all teaching units. The individual marks are averaged with a coefficient proportional to the CFU of the teaching unit.
If you have not passed a course or course unit, a make-up session is organised. However, if you have passed one or more courses or teaching units, you retain your result and do not have to retake these units.

Metrology and Data Analysis

Teacher: Dr.David Boilley, UNICAEN and GANIL, david.boilley@ganil.fr
Course Structure: The course (3 CFU) is taught in English through lectures (10h) and tutorial sessions (12h).
Attendance of Lessons: Attendance at the course is compulsory

The covered subjects are the following:

International standardisation in metrology (SI, VIM, GUM…)
Uncertainty evaluation, including Monte-Carlo methods
Inverse problem and Bayesian analysis
Hypothesis testing and application to the noise and signal problem
Learning from data: least squares fitting and ordinary linear regression

International standards:

International Vocabulary of Metrology;
Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement and its supplements;
Eurachem/CITAC guide: Quantifying Uncertainty in Analytical Measurement;
Determination of the characteristic limits (decision threshold, detection limit and limits of the coverage interval) for measurements of ionizing radiation (ISO 11929).

Books

Les Kirkup and Bob Frenkel, An Introduction to Uncertainty in Measurement, Cambridge University Press;
D. S. Sivia, Data analysis. A Bayesian tutorial, second edition, Oxford University Press;
Yadolah Dodge et Valentin Rousson, Analyse de régression appliquée, Dunod ;
Samprit Chatterjee and Ali S. Hadi, Regression Analysis by Example, Wiley.

Detailed lecture notes and tutorials with solutions are also provided by the professor on the dedicated webpage

The detailed calendar of the course and classroom information is updated daily on the webmail calendar of the students after enrollment

Assessment takes the form of a final written exam of a duration 2:00, consisting of practical exercices based on the tutorials worked out in the classroom. Examples of previous exams are also given on the course webpage.

To pass the semester, you must obtain an overall average of at least 10 out of 20 in all teaching units. The individual marks are averaged with a coefficient proportional to the CFU of the teaching unit.

If you have not passed a course or course unit, a make-up session is organised. However, if you have passed one or more courses or teaching units, you retain your result and do not have to retake these units.

Dosimetry and radiation protection

Teachers:

Prof. Etienne Liénard, LPC - lienard@lpccaen.in2p3.fr
Dr.Maxime Henri, CEA/INSTN - maxime.henri@cea.fr

Course Structure: The course (6 CFU) is taught in english through lectures, tutored exercices (20 h) and teaching interactive laboratory classes (15 h).
Attendance of Lessons: Attendance at the course and practical lab sessions is compulsory

Dosimetry : introduction
Calculation of doses in external exposure situations
1. Definitions and important physical concepts
2. Simple cases (point-like sources)
  1. Dose calculation for photons (X, γ)
  2. Dose calculation for electrons
  3. Dose calculation for neutrons
  4. Corrections and limits
    1. Very short distances: limits of the 1/d² law
    2. Continuous spectra (β and X-ray generator)
    3. Attenuation of photons: Buildup factors
3. Cases of extended sources
  - Surface contamination: approximation of a disk with constant density
  - Cylindrical bottle containing a liquid source
Radiation protection: introduction
1. A little history
2. Radiological risk & radiation protection
Risks evaluation
1. Protection quantities
2. Operational quantities
Protection against exposure and contamination
1. Generalities
2. Protection against external exposure
3. Protection against internal exposure
Radiation protection regulations
1. International regulations and application in France
2. Radiological zoning
3. Exposure limits, worker classification
Simulation, modelling, risk evaluation
1. Why use simulation?
2. Some words on simulations
3. The RayXpert Monte Carlo simulation software

Teaching material is provided by the professors on the dedicated webpage

The detailed calendar of the course and classroom information is updated daily on the webmail calendar of the students after enrollment

The final mark will be given through a written exam covering the course topics and the evaluation of the experimental project (one half of the final mark).
To pass the semester, you must obtain an overall average of at least 10 out of 20 in all teaching units. The individual marks are averaged with a coefficient proportional to the CFU of the teaching unit.
If you have not passed a course or course unit, a make-up session is organised. However, if you have passed one or more courses or teaching units, you retain your result and do not have to retake these units.

Physics of Medical Devices

Teachers: Prof. Marc Rousseau - rousseau@lpccaen.in2p3.fr
Course Structure: The course (3 CFU) is taught in english through lectures, tutored exercices (17 h) and teaching interactive laboratory classes (8 h).
Attendance of Lessons: Attendance at the course and practical lab sessions is compulsory

The aim of the courses is to apply the concepts and knowledge acquired in various fields such as nuclear physics, the interaction of radiation with matter and dosimetry to medical devices using ionizing radiation for diagnosis and therapy.

Basis of radiation-matter interaction, chemical and biological effects
Operating principle of the main diagnostic equipment using ionizing radiation (CT-scan, SPECT, PET)
Challenges in radiotherapy using X and hadron, depth dose deposition, treatment planning system
Therapy center and accelerator used for dose delivery
Physical dosimetry and absorbed dose, effect of nuclear interaction
1. Analytical model for dose calculation
2. Monte Carlo simulation for dose calculation, impact of nuclear models
Current research in nuclear physics aimed at improving dose control and delivery

Teaching material is provided by the professors on the dedicated webpage

The detailed calendar of the course and classroom information is updated daily on the webmail calendar of the students after enrollment

Assessment takes the form of a final written exam of a duration 1:30, consisting of practical exercices based on the tutorials worked out in the classroom.
To pass the semester, you must obtain an overall average of at least 10 out of 20 in all teaching units. The individual marks are averaged with a coefficient proportional to the CFU of the teaching unit.
If you have not passed a course or course unit, a make-up session is organised. However, if you have passed one or more courses or teaching units, you retain your result and do not have to retake these units.

Basics of Radiotherapy

Teachers:

Prof.Siamak Haghdoost ABTE/ToxEMAC UR 4651 - siamak.haghdoost@unicaen.fr
Prof.Juliette Thariat CFB et Université de Caen - jthariat@gmail.com

Course Structure: The course is taught in english through lectures (3 CFU - 20 h)
Attendance of Lessons: Attendance at the course is compulsory

Radiation biology, Overview
Effect of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation and radiation quality on DNA, signalling and DNA repair
Mechanisms of radiation mutagenesis and carcinogenesis
Radiation therapy for cancer treatments,
Radioanatomy and image guidance in radiation therapy
The different radiation therapy modalities, how what why , part 1 3D IMRT
Mechanisms of individual sensitivity to radiotherapy
The different radiation therapy modalities, how what why, part 2 Imaging for radiotherapy
The different radiation therapy modalities, how what why , part 3 SBRT
The different radiation therapy modalities, how what why , part 4 proton therapy and carbon ion therapy
Treatment effects and evaluation / modelling

Materials are provided by the professors on the dedicated webpage

The detailed calendar of the course and classroom information is updated daily on the webmail calendar of the students after enrollment

The examination consists of two oral presentations of two different papers related to the course contents and chosen during the teaching period
The two evaluations contribute equally to the formulation of the final grade. The presentations are marked on 5 items of equal weight :

understanding and didactic presentation of the context such that the other students would also understand
understanding of the methodology used in the paper
choice of the key results to be presented and critical mind in the presentation
ability to explain any limitations beyond the ones advanced in the authors' discussion
slide format and quality of oral presentation

To these 5 points, a bonus is given if some personal research goes beyond the simple article reading.
To pass the semester, you must obtain an overall average of at least 10 out of 20 in all teaching units. The individual marks are averaged with a coefficient proportional to the CFU of the teaching unit.
If you have not passed a course or course unit, a make-up session is organised. However, if you have passed one or more courses or teaching units, you retain your result and do not have to retake these units.

Master 2 – Nuclei, Atoms and Collisions (NAC)

1st semester

2nd semester

Theoretical nuclear and atomic physics

Experimental nuclear physics

Application for therapy

Atoms and clusters

Data Analysis and Machine Learning

Density Functional Theory and Applications

Project n°1–Koopman’s theorem

Project n°2–Bond breaking in Li2

Project n°3– Geometry optimization and properties of molecular systems

Advanced Nuclear Theory

Fundamental Interactions

Design of nuclear experiments

Ions Sources and Beams

Metrology and Data Analysis

Monte Carlo simulations

Dosimetry and radiation protection

Physics of Medical Devices

Basics of Radiotherapy

1^st semester

2^nd semester