In very good condition: cover has slight wear; pages appear to be unmarked. #62-13088
Nuclear Shell Theory, authored by Amos de-Shalit and Igal Talmi (first published in 1963), is a comprehensive graduate-level textbook dedicated to the mathematical theory of a system of Fermions in a central field. It serves as a pioneering and definitive resource on the nuclear shell model, focusing on modern methods used to describe nuclear structure and spectroscopy.
The book is designed for physicists, graduate students, and teachers of nuclear physics. It distinguishes itself by keeping mathematics as simple as possible while emphasizing the physical content of the formalism, making it a valuable resource for both experimentalists and theorists.
Core Theoretical Framework: The central premise of the book is the assumption that the complex interactions between nucleons (protons and neutrons) can be approximated by a "central field" or a sum of single-particle potentials.
Model Hamiltonian: The text assumes that wave functions of stationary states can be calculated accurately using a model Hamiltonian where interactions are simplified. Perturbation Theory: It posits that the difference between the true Hamiltonian and the model Hamiltonian is small enough for the first approximation of Rayleigh-Schrödinger perturbation theory to yield sufficiently accurate energy levels.
Phenomenological Approach: While ideally based on known nuclear forces, the book acknowledges that a phenomenological description—where interactions between nucleons in various shells are parameterized—is often the most realistic approach given incomplete knowledge of true nucleon interactions.
