Elementary Particle Physics 

Fall 2009

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Objectives:

This is an introduction to Modern Elementary Particle Physics. The course is an overview of the field. The course will start with the basic particle physics taxonomy. The role of conservation rules and symmetries will be discussed. The three well established gauge theories: QED, QCD and electroweak interactions will be introduced and the basic techniques to evaluate cross sections and decay rates for some processes at first order will be given (although the course does not require field theory).

Texts:

These are the text books being used to prepare the lectures The particle data booklet will be useful. It can be obtained online by the students at [ Particle Books ]

The students should bring this booklet to all the lectures.

Program (Temptative):

Chapter 1 ``Overview of particle physics'': Elementary fermions and interactions; Antiparticles; Baryons and mesons; Colour and confinement; Weak interactions; Feynman diagrams; More generations: flavours. (Chapter 1 Halzen and Martin, Chapter 0-1 Griffiths, Chapter 1 Perkins)

Chapter 2 ``Symmetries in Particle Physics'': Symmetry groups and conservations laws; Space-time symmetries: Translations and energy-momentum conservation, and rotations and angular momentum conservation; Spin angular momentum and representations of SU(2); Finite symmetries: C,P,T and CPT; Internal symmetries: SU(2) isospin flavour and SU(3) flavour. (Chapter 2 Halzen and Martin (2-1 to 2-11), Chapter 4 Griffiths)

Chapter 3 ``Relativistic Wave Equations'': Schrodinger equation and its probabilistic interpretation; Klein-Gordon equation and its problems; Dirac Equation: Derivation, Solutions, Relativist Properties and Bilinear Covariants; Electromagnetic wave equations: photons; Coupling of fermions to electromagnetism: non-relativistic limit. (Halzen and Martin (3-3 to 3-5, 5, and 6.9), Griffiths(7.1 to 7.4)

Chapter 4 ``QED I: Feynman amplitudes and Feynman diagrams'': Non-relativistic perturbation theory; Interaction of electron with electromagnetic field; e- mu- --> e- mu- scattering amplitude; Feymman rules for QED; Lagrangian density formalism: Gauge invariance of QED lagrangian and massless gauge bosons; Higher order: Renomalization. (Halzen and Martin (3.6, 6.1, 6.4, 6.17, 4.8, 6.10 and 14.1-14.3. , brief summary of chapter 7, check also chapter 4) , Griffiths(7.5 and 7.9)

Chapter 5 ``QED II: QED processes in lowest order'': Definition of scattering cross section; cross section in terms of Feynman amplitude; cross section for e- mu- --> e- mu- : techniques, trace theorems, Mandelstam variables, data; helicity conservation at high energies; cross section for e-e- --> e- e- (Moller scattering) and crossed processes; e- gamma --> e- gamma (Compton scattering); e+ e- --> gamma gamma (pair annihilation, homework); e- mu- --> e- mu- in Lab frame. (Halzen and Martin 4.3, Chapter 6,Griffiths 6.1, 6.2, 7.6,7.7))

Chapter 6 ``QED and the structure of hadrons'': Concept of form factors; e-p -->e-p elastic scattering: proton form factors; e-p -->e-p elastic inelastic scattering; Bjorken scaling and quarks; quark distribution functions; the gluons. (Halzen and Martin 8.1-8.4, Chapter 9; Griffiths 8.3-8.6))

Chapter 7 ``Quantum Chromodynamics'': Evidence of 3 colours: e+e---> hadrons; Lagrangian and Feynmand rules for QCD; q qbar interactions: colour singlet and colour octet configurations; Asymptotic freedom: perturbative QCD and factorization; Tests of perturbative QCD: Drell-Yan, e+e--> 2 jets and the spin of the quark; e+e- --> 3 jets and the spin of the gluon (Griffiths 9, Halzen and Martin 10.1, 11);

Chapter 8 ``Weak Interactions'': Weak decays and parity violation: V-A weak charged currents; W boson as mediator of weak charged currents; Low energy tests: muon decay, nuclear beta decay, neutrino decay, neutrino-electron scattering; fermion mixing matrix; Weak neutral currents: Z0 and the GIM mechanism; CP violation; Weinberg-Salam Model of Electroweak Interactions; Spontaneoous symmetry breaking: Higgs mechanism; Masses of the Gauge Bosons and of the Fermions. (Halzen and Martin 12, 13, 15.1,14.9,15.2-4, Griffits 10.1-10.6)

Problem Sets:

Problem sets will be assigned in class and are due on the date shown. You are expected to solve them on your own and the final calculations handed in must be your own work. Late homework will not be accepted.

Grades:

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