Particle Physics

Outline

Classification of elementary particles, cross-sections, relativistic kinematics. Symmetry and conservation laws. Photons. Dirac equation. QED. Parity. Spin. C-parity. Isospin, G-parity. Clebsch-Gordan coefficients. Resonances. Quark Model. SU(3). Deep inelastic scattering. Weak interactions. V-A theory. Neutrinos. CP violation. Neutral currents. W and Z bosons. Z-width. Gauge theory. Weinberg-Salam model. Colour and hadron structure. QCD. e⁺e^- physics. Grand unified theories. Proton decay. Massive neutrinos. Neutrinos and cosmic expansion. Dark matter.

1 Unit
24 Lectures
9 Tutorials will be set during the year.
1.5 Hour (open book) examination to take place in October/ November, counting 50\% towards final mark.

Literature

D. Perkins, Introduction to High Energy Physics, 4th ed., Cambridge University Press, 2000.
B. Roe, Particle Physics at the New Millenium, Springer, 1996.
B. Povh, Particles and Nuclei, Springer Verlag, 1995.
W. E. Burcham and Jobes, Nuclear and Particle Physics, Longman, 1995.
W. S. Williams, Nuclear and Particle Physics, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1991.
I. Hughes, Elementary Particles, 3rd. ed., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
J. Dodd, The Ideas of Particle Physics, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
D. Griffiths, Introduction to Elementary Particle Physics, Wiley, 1987.
B. Martin and G. Shaw, Particle Physics, Wiley, 1992.

Lecturer: Professor David Aschman and Dr Zeblon Vilakazi.

More information is available on the PHY400/1W Particle Physics homepage.

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