Dec 14: HW solutions on the web... see you at the Final Exam in D-122 on Friday Dec 16, 11am
Dec 8: Lecture notes 24-26 on the web
Nov 28: Lecture notes 20-23 and HW11 on the web
Nov 17: Lecture notes 18-19 and HW10 on the web
Nov 11: Lecture notes 17 and HW9 on the web
Nov 3: All HW Solutions on the web.
Nov 2: Notes for Midterm 1 (Monday Nov 7) on the web; also examples from past Midterms...
Nov 1: HW Solutions on the web (all except HW06).
Oct 31: OOPS: forgot to convert PHY557_ HW8.html into PHY557_ HW8.pdf! Now done.
Oct 31: Lecture notes 14 & 15 and HW8 on the web
Oct 19: Lecture notes 12 & 13 and HW7 on the web
Oct 12: Lecture notes 10 & 11 and HW6 on the web
Oct 4: HW5 link repaired on the web.
Sep 28: Lecture notes 8 and HW5 on the web... Note: NO LECTURES on Mo Oct 3, We Oct 5!
Sep 21: Lecture notes 6 & 7 and HW4 on the web...
Sep 19: Lecture notes on the web...
Sep 16: HW3 on the web; lecture notes will follow...
Sep 9: HW 2, Problem 1: error corrected (Thanks Emanuel!)
Sep 7: HW 2 and Lecture notes on the web, see links below.
Aug 31: HW1 on the web, see link below.

PHY557 is an introductory course on elementary particle physics. We will give an overview of this very diverse and rich field in physics, with special attention to recent developments. We will introduce the role of symmetries in particle physics, the Dirac equation, gauge theories, and the Standard Model; we will do first-order Feyman diagram calculations and compare with experimental data. The last quarter of the course is devoted to the discussion of experimental techniques and detectors in particle physics.

The course does not require quantum field theory. Lecture notes and homework (solutions) will be posted on the web

Course Outline

Part II - Beginnings of a Theory
Klein-Gordon equation and Feynman rules; Dirac equation and Feynman rules; Example calculations of electron and muon scattering; Deeply Inelastic electron-proton scattering; Weak Interactions; Muon decay, Neutrino-electron scattering, electron-electron scattering near the Z-pole;

Part III - The Standard Model
The Glashow-Weinberg-Salam model, global and local gauge invariance, symmetry breaking and the Higgs mechanism, examples of U(1), SU(2), and SU(3) symmetries; The Electroweak Lagrangian and the gauge boson masses; Feynman rules for the Electroweak Lagrangian; Examples of W and Z production at Hadron Colliders; QCD and quark and gluon jets; The running of the strong coupling constant a_S, gluon radiation and splitting;

Part IV - Experimentation for Particle Physics
Principles of Particle Detectors; Interaction of particles with matter; gaseous detectors, scintillators and photon detectors; tracking of charged particles; principles of calorimetry; data acquisition and triggering; examples of existing detectors and detector performance.

Course Instructions

Communication of homework assignments, solutions, schedules, notes, and other information will be done via this web site, so make sure you have at least weekly access to a computer on the SUNYSB.EDU network. This page can be reached via the instructor's homepage, via the the Physics department home page (http://www.physics.sunysb.edu), and via the course information on the Instructional Computing pages.

Lecture Notes are available from the web, and will be regularly updated as the course proceeds.

Homework

Homework will be assigned each week and will be due and collected for grading the following week at the beginning of the week's first meeting. Homework assignments, and the solutions (after the homework has become due) will be posted on the web. Although cooperative learning is encouraged, you are required to solve the problems on your own and to consult others only after giving it a serious try yourself. The final calculations and solutions have to be done by you alone. Count on about 4 hours of homework per week. Copied or late homework will not be accepted and will count as zero.

Homework assignments are updated regularly.

Examinations

There will be one mid-term 1.5-hour examination during the semester, given during the regular lecture time, and a final 2.5-hour exam during finals week, in D-122:

Exam	Date	Material
Midterm	Nov 7 12:50pm - 1:15pm D-122	Course Material: Lectures (use of all material allowed)	Solutions Examples
Final	Dec 16 11:00am - 1:30pm D-122	All course material	Examples

Grading

Your final grade will be determined as follows:

Additional Reading Material

• Particle Data Group, "Particle Physics Booklet 2005". A quantity is on order and will be handed out in class.
• Introductory Level Particle Physics:
• D.Griffiths, "Introduction to Elementary Particles" (Wiley, 1987)
• W.Cottingham and D.Greenwood, "An Introduction to the Standard Model of Particle Physics" (Cambridge UP, 1998)
• F.Halzen and A.D.Martin, "Quarks and Leptons" (Wiley, 1984)
• G.Kane, "Modern Elementary Particle Physics" (Add.Wesley, 1987)
• D.Perkins, "Introduction to High Energy Physics" (Add.Wesley, )
• D.Cheng, G.O'Neill, "Elementary Particle Physics" (Add.Wesley 1979)
• R.Feynman, "The Theory of Fundamental Processes" (Benj/Cumm 1961)
• K.Gottfried and V.Weisskopf, "Concepts of Particle Physics", Vol.I and II (Oxford UP, 1984)
• More Advanced Level Particle Physics:
• E. Leader, E. Predazzi, "An Introduction to Gauge Theories and Modern Particle Physics" (Cambridge UP 1996)
• R.Feynman, "Quantum Electro Dynamics" (Benj/Cumm 1962)
• C.Quigg, "Gauge Theories of the Strong, Weak and EM Interactions" (Benj/Cumm 1983)
• I.Aitchison, A.Hey, "Gauge Theories in Particle Physics" (Adam Hilger 1989)
• E.Commins, P.Bucksbaum, "Weak Interactions of Quarks and Leptons" (Cambridge UP 1983)
• H.Georgi, "Weak Interactions and Modern Particle Theory" (Benj/Cumm 1984)
• F.Close, "Introduction to Quarks and Leptons" (Ac.Press 1979)
• Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Field Theory:
• J.D.Jackson, "Classical Electrodynamics" (Wiley, 1975)
• J.J.Sakurai, "Advanced Quantum Mechanics" (Add.Wesloy, 1978)
• B.De Wit and J.Smith, "Field Theory in Particle Physics", Vol.I (North Holland, 1986)
• J.Bjorken and S.Drell, "Relativistic Quantum Dynamics" (McGraw-H. 1964)
• Experimental Techniques:
• R.Fernov, "Introduction to Experimental Particle Physics" (Cambridge UP, 1986)
• F.Sauli, "Principles of Operation of Multiwire Proportional and Drift Chambers", CERN Yellow Report, CERN 77-09 (1977)
• "Experimental Techniques in High Energy PhysicS", ed. T.Ferbel (Add.Wesley, 1987)
• "Formulae and Methods in Experimental Data Evaluation", Published by the European Physical Society, CERN RD/620-2005 (1984)
• K.Kleinknecht, "Detectors for Particle Radiation" ()

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, I would urge that you contact the staff in the Disabled Student Services office (DSS), Room 133, Humanities, 632-6748v/TDD. DSS will review your concerns and determine with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation of disability are confidential.