PHY 557

Elementary Particle Physics 

Fall 2003

Instructor:

Place and Time:

Objectives:

Phy557 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 provided to the students by the instructor. The students should bring this booklet to all the lectures and to the exams.

Program Covered to Date:

Chapter 1 ``Overview of particle physics'': Elementary fermions and interactions; Antiparticles; Baryons and mesons; Colour and confinement; Weak interactions; Feynman diagrams; More generations: flavours; Natural units. (Chapter 1 Halzen and Martin, Chapter 0-1 Griffiths, Chapter 1 Perkins) (Lectures 09/04/03, 09/09/03)

Chapter 2 ``Relativistic Kinematics'': Lorentz transformation; Implications; Four-vector notation; Energy-momentum four-vector; Examples. (Chapter 2 Griffiths) (Lectures 09/09/03, 09/11/03)

Chapter 3 ``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) (Lectures 09/16/03, 09/18/03, 09/23/03)

Chapter 4 ``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) (Lectures 09/23/03, 09/30/03, 10/02/03)

Chapter 5 ``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; Higher order: Renomalization. (Halzen and Martin (3.6, 6.1, 6.4, 6.17, 4.8, 6.10, brief summary of chapter 7, check also chapter 4) , Griffiths(7.5 and 7.9) (Lectures 10/07/03, 10/09/03, 10/14/03)

Chapter 6 ``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) (Lectures 10/14/03, 10/17/03, 10/21/03)

Chapter 7 ``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) (Lectures 10/28/03, 10/30/03)

Chapter 8 ``Quantum Chromodynamics'': Evidence of 3 colours: e+e---> hadrons; 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); (Lectures 11/04/03, 11/06/03)

Chapter 9 ``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. (Halzen and Martin 12, Griffits 10.1-10.6); (Lectures 11/11/03, 11/14/03)

Chapter 10 ``Weinberg-Salam Model of Electroweak Interactions'': Weak isospin and hypercharge; Electroweak unification: weak mixing angle; Feynman rules for electroweak interactions; Observables and experimental tests: neutrino scattering, e+e- scattering; Lep precision data; Lagrangian density formalism; Gauge invariance of lagrangian: massless gauge bosons; Spontaneoous symmetry breaking: Higgs mechanism; Lagrangian of the Standard Model; Some open questions in Particle Physics; (Halzen and Martin 13 and 14, 15.3, Griffits 10.7 and 11); (Lectures 11/18/03, 11/21/03, 11/25/03)

Chapter 11 ``Experiments in Particle Physics'': Summary of some of the classical experiments in particle physics; Overview of some of the presently running and future experiments in particle physics, their detection techniques and their main physics goals; (Presentations and homeworks 12/02/03, 12/04/03, 12/09/03)

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.
  • Homework Assignment 1 (Due 9/18/03 9:50 am) Solutions: [ ps, pdf ]
  • Homework Assignment 2 (Due 9/30/03 9:50 am) : Solutions: [ ps, pdf ]
  • Homework Assignment 3 (Due 10/14/03 9:50 am) : Solutions: [ pdf, pdf ]
  • Homework Assignment 4 (Due 10/14/03 9:50 am) : Solutions: [ pdf ]
  • Homework Assignment 5 (Due 10/21/03 9:50 am) : Solutions: [ pdf ]
  • Homework Assignment 6 (Due 10/06/03 9:50 am) Solutions: [ ps, pdf ]
  • Homework Assignment 7 (Due 10/13/03 9:50 am) Solutions: [ pdf ]
  • Homework Assignment 8 (Due 11/25/03 9:50 am) Solutions: [ ps, pdf ]
  • Homework Assignment 9 [ link ]
  • Exams:

    Grades:

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    Special Notes:

    Any excuses (medical or otherwise) are to be documented, and discussed with the instructors in a timely manner. If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact on your ability to carry out assigned course work, we urge that you contact the staff in the Disabled Student Services office (DSS), Room 133 Humanities, 632-6748/TDD. DSS will review your concerns and determine, with you, what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation of disability is confidential.