MEASUREMENT METHODS AND ABSOLUTE DATING TECHNIQUES

FIS/01 - 6 CFU - 1° Semester

Teaching Staff

PAOLA LA ROCCA


Learning Objectives

The course aims at providing the basic knowledge and tools for the analysis of geophical data, for the uncertainties estimation and for statistical analyses. It also gives an introduction to the main dating methods and their application in Geophysics.

The Learning Objectives, within the Dublin Descriptors scheme, are:

  1. Knowledge and understanding: knowledge of the basic notions of statistics and data analysis techniques; knowledge of the main dating techniques and their field of application;
  2. Applying knowledge and understanding: ability to analyze and understand experimental data;
  3. Making judgements: ability to make numerical estimations of physical quantities;
  4. Communication skills: ability to discuss (in an oral conversation or in writing) a scientific topic using an appropriate scientific language;
  5. Learning skills: ability to study individually and to keep up-to-date with the new scientific discoveries in this field.

Course Structure

Classroom-taught lessons by the use of interactive power point presentations.

Practical sessions of data analisys and exercises.

Guided tours of nuclear physics and dating laboratories.

N.B. Should the circumstances require online or blended teaching, appropriate modifications to what is hereby stated may be introduced, in order to achieve the main objectives of the course. Exams may take place online, depending on circumstances.



Detailed Course Content

First part
1) Measurement of a Physical quantity
The scientific method – Physical quantities – Units of measurement – Measurement uncertainty – Estimation of the uncertainty – Absolute and relative uncertainties – How to report uncertainties – Use of tables – – Comparison of two measured numbers – Significant Figures – Graphical representation of the experimental data
2) Propagation of uncertainties
Direct and indirect measurements - Error propagation in sums, differences, products and quotients - Independent uncertainties in a measurement - General formula for error propagation
3) Statistical analysis of random uncertainties
Histograms and distributions - The mean and Standard Deviation – The weighted average - The Gaussian distribution and its properties - The Poisson distribution and its properties - Student test
4) Least-squares fitting
Introduction to the least-squares fit - The Linear best-fit – Calculation of the constants A and B - Uncertainties in the constants A and B - Least-squares fits to other curves – Examples and applications
5) The chi-squared test for a distribution
Comparison between theoretical and experimental data distributions - General definition of chi-squared - Degree of freedom and the reduced chi-squared – The chi-squared test - Examples
Second part
1) Basics of Nuclear Physics
The nucleus and its contents - Mass number and atomic number – Isotopes – Abundance of isotopes in nature
2) Basics of radioactivity
Nuclear stability – The radioactivity - The radioactivity decay law –Decay constant, lifetime and half-life - Types of Radioactive Decay – Alpha decay - Beta decay - Gamma decay
3) Dating methods
Introduction to the dating methods - Radiocarbon dating - AMS dating - Potassium-Argon dating - Argon-Argon dating - Uranium-Thorium dating - Rubidium-Stronzium dating - Fission track dating – Thermoluminescence phenomena and its application in archaeological dating - Electron spin resonance and its use in dating - atcheomagnetic dating technique



Textbook Information

1) J.R. Taylor, “Introduzione all’analisi degli errori”, Zanichelli

2) B.Povh, K.Rith, C.Scholtz, F.Zetsche, “Particelle e Nuclei”, Bollati-Boringhieri

3) W.S.C. Williams, “Nuclear and Particle Physics”, Oxford Science Publications

4) M.J.Aitken, “Science-based Dating in Archeology”, Pearson Education

5) A.Castellano, M.Martini, E.Sibilia, “Elementi di archeometria”, Egea




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