Particle Physics

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Appreciate the role of symmetries in particle physics
• Have a broad overview of the standard model and its predictions
• Understand symmetry breaking mechanisms in particle physics
• Understand and be able to calculate in relativistic quantum mechanics

Review of particles and their properties

Relativistic Quantum Mechanics

• Klein Gordon equation and negative energy solutions
• Dirac equation, anti-particles and spin

Quantum Electro Dynamics

• Photons
• Minimal substitution
• Feynman rules of QED from Fermi's Golden Rule & g-2
• Gauge invariance

Quantum Chromo Dynamics

• SU(3) colour symmetry
• Feynman rules
• Asymptotic Freedom and the non-perturbative regime
• Colour singlets

Electro-weak Theory

• SU(2) weak isospin
• Symmetry breaking and the Higgs boson
• U(1) hypercharge
• fermion masses, CKM matrices and CP violation

Beyond the Standard Model

• Neutrino mass
• Naturalness and new Higgs physics.
• The quantum gravity problem

Teaching and learning methods

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Resources & Reading list

Internet Resources

Online Materials.

Textbooks

Halzen and Martin (more phenomenological core book). Quarks and Leptons.

Perkins (an experimental view of the subject). Introduction to High Energy Physics.

Aitchison and Hey (more formal core book). Gauge Theories in Particle Physics.

Dunningham & Vedral (for revision). Introductory Quantum Physics and Relativity.

Casalbuoni (good entry book to QFT). Introduction to Quantum Field Theory.

Gorbunov and Rubakov (for Cosmology part). Introduction to the Theory of the Early Universe.

Martin and Shaw (more phenomenological core book). Particle Physics.

Lee (essential for the part con colliders). Accelerator Physics.

Assessment strategy

Non compulsory problem sheets are available on the website, including model answers, though they are not used for formal (summative) assessment purposes.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External