The various observables we will discuss in the course are thought to be understood via the following five major topics

• Single particle properties and mean-field models, lecture notes, JS chapters 3-5 and AB chapters 7-10 and 14
• Nuclear forces, covered by lecture notes
• The nuclear shell-model, lecture notes, JS chapter 8 and AB chapters 11-22.
• Particle-hole excitations, random-phase approximation and pairing (and perhaps something on collective models), lecture notes and JS chapters 9 and 11.
• Decays and one and two-body transition probabilities, lecture notes, JS chapters 6 and 7, AB chapters 23-29.

To understand how these topics are linked will provide us with fundamental insights about the laws of motion that govern nuclear physics.