Physics 582
Particle Physics II
Fall 2006

Prof. Lynne Orr
orr@pas.rochester.edu
B&L451, (585) 275-8528



Announcements: Second homework assignment posted below.



Course summary:
This course is introduction to the Standard Model of Particle Physics. We'll talk about the electromagnetic, weak, and strong interactions, and how they fit together in the SM. We'll discuss what it means that SU(3) X SU(2) X U(1) describes those interactions, that the electroweak force breaks down to U(1) of electromagnetism, and what this has to do with the Higgs boson. We will also talk about how it fits in with past, present, and future experiments.


Catalogue entry -- generic course info

(Syllabus)


Course Outline (with links to scanned lecture notes)

Topic Pages in notes (pdf)
1. Introduction and Overview Lecture sets 1 , 2
The Standard Model and its limitations 1.1-29
Anatomy of a cross section 1.30-44
2. Electromagnetic Interactions Lecture sets 3 , 4 , 5 , 6
Review of relativistic kinematics 2.1-11
Gauge invariance in classical E&M and nonrelativistic QM 2.12-18
Quick review of Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations 2.26-36
Dirac Lagrangian and Feynman rules for QED 2.37-45
Cross section for e+e- -> µ+µ- 2.46-73
3. Weak Interactions and Electroweak Theory Lecture sets 7 , 8 , 9
Weak Interactions 3.1 - 3.20
GIM mechanism, CKM matrix, and CP violation 3.21 - 3.30
SU(2) × U(1) 3.31 - 3.48
Physics at the Z 3.48 - 3.54
Electroweak symmetry breaking 4.1 - 4.18
Physics of the Higgs Boson 4.19 - 4.26
EWSB beyond the SM 4.27 - 4.29ff
Neutrinos
4. QCD Lecture set 10
Deep inelastic scattering and structure functions
Hadron-hadron collisions
Renormalization and asymptotic freedom

Class meetings

The class will meet on Tuesdays from 12:30pm - 3:00pm Eastern time (with a break in the middle) in B&L room 207. The class will be ``simulcast" at Fermilab by videoconference, hence the once-weekly marathon sessions. At Fermilab the class meets in the Industrial Center Building #2 Conference room. The industrial center buildings are across the street from CDF; for more detailed directions contact Jennifer Gimmel, jennifer@pas.rochester.edu.


Prerequisites

This course is more or less self-contained, and can be taken without having had P581 first. I will assume that most students are in the 2nd year of graduate school or beyond, and I will assume familiarity with some basic ideas in particle physics. I will also use some results from advanced quantum mechanics and field theory, so knowing these will help but is not required.


Recommended texts

There is no required text for this course; the lectures are drawn from a variety of sources. Students looking for supplemental reading may find the following texts helpful (they will be put on reserve in the POA library):

D.H. Perkins, Introduction to High Energy Physics

R.N. Cahn and G. Goldhaber, The Experimental Foundations of Particle Physics

C. Quigg, Gauge Theories of the Strong, Weak, and EM Interactions

F. Halzen and A. Martin, Quarks and Leptons

M. Peskin and D. Schroeder, Introduction to Quantum Field Theory

V.D. Barger and R.J.N. Phillips, Collider Physics

I.J.R. Aitchison and A.J.G. Hey, Gauge Theories and Particle Physics


Requirements and Grading

1. I will give several homework assignments during the semester. Collaboration is allowed and encouraged, but each student must do his or her own write-up.

2. There will be no exams, but near semester's end each student will give a brief presentation (~15 minutes) on a topic of current interest in particle physics.


Homework Assignments

Homework #1

Homework #2

Homework #3


Useful Links

SLAC Spires HEP database

Particle Data Group

HEP Labs, Experiments, and Detectors