Theory of Atomic Nuclei

The dimension of a typical atom is 100.000 times larger than the size of its nucleus, however, around 99.975% of the mass of an atom is concentrated in its nucleus. This is why nuclear theory is sometimes called the theory of everything. Theory of Atomic Nuclei: Foundations selects some fundamental problems of the theory of atomic nuclei at low energy. It reviews specific nuclear physics issues in terms of historical development and evolution into more extended theories, which nowadays constitute complete parts of nuclear science. The book allows the reader to understand the structure of the nucleus, i.e., the mechanism that rules in this subatomic world. The book is intended for graduate physics students at universities and nuclear sciences and engineering students at technical universities. It can also be helpful for PhD students and junior researchers in nuclear physics. The book is based on lectures on the theory of atomic nuclei given by the authors at the Maria-Curie Skłodowska University in Lublin and at doctoral schools in Poland, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, and China in recent years. It is based mostly on original scientific papers and extensive monographs on nuclear theory.

Key Features:

• Written as a compact introduction to theories of the atomic nucleus
• Despite its compact form, the book acquaints the reader with the basic nuclear models and helps them better understand them
• Provides the reader with a foundation to go on and navigate contemporary theories or models of the atomic nucleus independently and in more detail

Bożena Nerlo-Pomorska is a theoretical physicist long year academic teacher specializing in the theory of atomic nuclei. She graduated in physics from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University. She completed her doctoral studies at the Institute of Nuclear Research. After her doctorate, she was employed at the MCS University, initially as an assistant professor and then a full professor. She completed several extended foreign sabbaticals at universities in Hanover, Regensburg in Germany, and the University of Strasbourg in France. She was also a visiting professor at the Technical University of Munich. She is the author of one textbook for students and about 140 scientific articles, cited over 2,000 times in the world literature.

Krzysztof Pomorski is an expert in the theory of atomic nuclei and nuclear reactions. He graduated in theoretical physics from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland. He defended his doctoral thesis at the Institute of Nuclear Research. He was then employed at his alma mater, where he became a full professor. At present he is employed at the National Centre for Nuclear Research in Warsaw. He completed several years of research internships at the Technical University of Munich, the University of Regensburg in Germany, and the University of Strasbourg in France. He was also a visiting professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. He is the author of three academic textbooks and over 200 scientific articles, which have been cited about 5,000 times. In 2011, he received the Marian Smoluchowski Medal, the highest distinction awarded by the Polish Physical Society.