| PHY 557 | Elementary Particle Physics | Fall 2008 |
.Aug 11: first version of course page. Please note the class meeting time!
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 and ongoing developments. This Fall semester is particular opportune with the start of operations of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN and the associated large general-purpose detectors ATLAS and CMS. As Stony Brook participates in the ATLAS experiment, we will see particle physics in action and up close with this detector. 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. About a 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
| Lectures: | Physics D-122 | MW 12:50 - 2:10pm *) | First meeting of class:
We Sep 03 Last meeting of class: Mo Dec 15 No class: |
| Advised: PDG booklet: | "Particle Physics Booklet," (available in September; 320 pages): email your request for a Particle Physics Booklet to pdgrequest@lbl.gov. This is a small-sized compendium of particle properties and data on detectors produced by the Particle Data Group | ||
| Other books (see also below): | "An
Introduction to the Standard Model of Particle Physics," by W.N.
Cottingham and D.A. Greenwood, Cambridge UP,
1998. "Quarks and Leptons: An Introductory Course in Modern Particle Physics," by F. Halzen and A. D. Martin (Hardcover - Jan 1984) "Gauge Theories in Particle Physics," 2 Volume Set (Paperback) by I.J.R. Aitchison and A.J.G. Hey; ed. Taylor & Francis; 3rd ed. (1/1/2004). "The Standard Model: A Primer," (Hardcover) by C. Burgess and G. Moore; Cambridge University Press (12/ 25/ 2006). "Collider Physics," (Frontiers in Physics, Paperback) by Vernon D. Barger and Roger J. N. Phillips; Westview Press, Upd Sub edition (11/ 26/1996). "A First Course in String Theory," by B. Zwiebach; Cambridge University Press, 2004; Hardcover. "Introduction to Experimental Particle Physics," by R.Fernov; Cambridge UP, 1986. "Experimental Techniques in High Energy Physics," ed. T.Ferbel; Addison Wesley, 1987. |
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Lecturer: |
Michael Rijssenbeek | D-137, 2-8099 |
Office hrs: M 3:00-6:00 pm, e-mail |
| *) Note the extended MW class time, different from that announced; please contact the instructor ASAP if this clashes with your schedule... | |||
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, Geneva, Switzerland is starting operations in September 2008. This long-awaited moment coincides with the beginning of our course, and we may adapt and change the course in order to discuss new results as they become available. The tentative list of discussion topics is below, but the order will certainly vary. After a short historical introduction and a quick overview of the particles of the Standard Model (SM), we will discuss the LHC accelerator and collider complex, followed by a description of the ATLAS detector. This will prepare us for the first ATLAS data. We then will discuss the SM in depth, together with its known shortcomings. We will discuss Supersymmetry as a possible cure of some of these problems, as well as other proposed theories beyond the SM.
Part I - Phenomenology of Elementary Particles Historical Overview; Quarks and Leptons; constructing Hadrons; Elementary Forces; Symmetries and Invariance principles in particle physics; eigen-states of strong and weak interactions and mixing; Neutrino masses; CP-violation in weak interactions; Particle Kinematics; Cross Sections, Phase Space, and life times;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 aS, 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. We will mostly use the ATLAS detector as example of a state-of-the-art particle detector.
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 and via the the Physics department home page (http://www.physics.sunysb.edu).
Lecture notes will posted, and will be added (and updated) weekly as the course proceeds.
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.
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 | Oct 22 12:50pm - 2:10pm D-122 |
Course Material: Lectures (use of all material allowed) |
Solutions |
| Final | Dec 19 02:00pm - 4:30pm D-122 |
All course material | Solutions |
Your final grade will be determined as follows:
| Midterm Examination | 20% | Homework | 50% |
| Final Examination | 30% |
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 urge you to 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.