PH 595 Section 002: Independent Study

Fall 2011

3 Credit Hours

Primary Instructor: Dr. Andreas Piepke

Syllabus subject to change.

Office Hours

Wednesday 10:00 am to=20 12:00 am. I have an open door policy. You may see me whenever I am in my = office,=20 room 202 Gallalee Hall. It is advisable to schedule an appointment by = phone or=20 email.

Phone:=20 6066,

Email: andreas@bama.ua.edu=

Prerequisites

From the Student Records System

No prerequisites found.

Course Description

This course will provide a self paced introduction to experimental = neutrino=20 physics. The emphasis is on the investigation of nuclear double beta = decay. The=20 course involves reading of papers and involvement in the ongoing EXO-200 = double=20 beta decay experiment. The latter will be through analysis of experiment = data=20 using our local, LINUX based, computing system. The student will = participate in=20 the weekly meetings of the neutrino physics research group and present = results=20 to this group by means of PowerPoint presentations. Achieving a passing = grade=20 will require an end of semester oral presentation to the group of at = least 30=20 min lenght or writing of a semester paper in scientific format (at least = 5=20 pages).

Student Learning Outcomes

Become familiar with the experimental techniques involved in rare = event=20 searches.
Develop a working understanding of neutrino mass tests and double = beta=20 decay experiments.
Become familiar with the EXO-200 double beta decay experiment and = its=20 software tools.
Develop the ability to work on EXO-200 data=20 analysis.

Outline of Topics

Radioactive decay
Rare event searches, backgrounds
Double beta decay and its importance for neutrino physics
EXO-200 data analysis

Exams and Assignments

Student performance will be assessed using the following:

Active participation in the meetings of the neutrino research = group.
At least one 15 min PowerPoint presentation on double beta decay = and the=20 EXO-200 experiment by mid term.
A final 30 min presentation on EXO-200 research result or a 5 page = paper=20 on the same subject.

Grading Policy

This class will have a pass or fail grade. A passing grade requires = regular=20 participation in the neutrino physics group meetings, a 15 min midterm=20 PowerPoint presentation to the group, and a 30 min end of semester = PowerPoint=20 presentation to this group. A 5 page end of term paper on EXO-200 = research=20 results (in scientific format) may be substituted for the latter=20 requirement.

Policy on Missed Exams & Coursework

This class is self paced. The students are responsible for allocating = sufficient study time to the subject. Absences from the weekly group = meetings=20 will be accepted if it is scheduled ahead of time. There will be no make = up of=20 missed meetings. However, the scheduling will be flexible to accomodate = the=20 student's learning pace and time constaints.

Attendance Policy

Attendance of the weekly meetings of the neutrino physics research = group is=20 required. Absences can be excused for valid reasons and if prior = arrangements=20 are made with the instructor.

Required Texts

UA Supply Store Textbook Information

Textbook data from the Supply Store not found for this = course.

Other Course Materials

This class requires reading of scientific papers. A list of resources = will be=20 developped in collaboration with the instructor who will aid in = identifying=20 relevant papers.

Extra Credit Opportunities

None

Policy on Academic Misconduct

All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected = to be=20 honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community = of=20 scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of = conduct=20 than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct = includes all=20 acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or = intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another = student.=20

The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be = followed=20 in the event of academic misconduct.

Disability Statement

If you are registered with the Office of = Disability Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as = possible to=20 discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary. If you have a=20 disability, but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, = please=20 call 348-4285 or visit 133-B Martha Parham Hall East to register for = services.=20 Students who may need course adaptations because of a disability are = welcome to=20 make an appointment to see me during office hours. Students with = disabilities=20 must be registered with the Office of Disability Services, 133-B Martha = Parham=20 Hall East, before receiving academic adjustments.

Severe Weather Protocol

In the case of a tornado warning (tornado has been sighted or = detected by=20 radar; sirens activated), all university activities are automatically = suspended,=20 including all classes and laboratories. If you are in a building, please = move=20 immediately to the lowest level and toward the center of the building = away from=20 windows (interior classrooms, offices, or corridors) and remain there = until the=20 tornado warning has expired. Classes in session when the tornado warning = is=20 issued can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the = discretion of=20 the instructor. Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes = after the=20 tornado warning has expired provided at least half of the class period=20 remains.

UA is a residential campus with many students living on or near = campus. In=20 general classes will remain in session until the National Weather = Service issues=20 safety warnings for the city of Tuscaloosa. Clearly, some students and = faculty=20 commute from adjacent counties. These counties may experience weather = related=20 problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals should follow the = advice of=20 the National Weather Service for that area taking the necessary = precautions to=20 ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service and the = Emergency=20 Management Agency issue a warning, people in the path of the storm = (tornado or=20 severe thunderstorm) should take immediate life saving actions.

When West Alabama is under a severe weather advisory, = conditions can=20 change rapidly. It is imperative to get to where you can receive = information=20 from the National = Weather=20 Service and to follow the instructions provided. Personal safety = should=20 dictate the actions that faculty, staff and students take. The Office of = Public=20 Relations will disseminate the latest information regarding conditions = on campus=20 in the following ways:

Weather advisory posted on the UA homepage
Weather advisory sent out through Connect-ED--faculty, staff and = students=20 (sign up at = myBama)
Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA at 90.7 FM
Weather advisory broadcast over Alabama Public Radio (WUAL) at = 91.5 FM=20
Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA 7. WVUA 7 Storm Watch = provides a free=20 service you can subscribe to that allows you to receive weather = warnings for=20 Tuscaloosa via e-mail, pager or cell phone. Check http://www.wvua7.com/stormwatch.html for = details.