PH 561: Introduction to Elementary Particle Physics

Course Syllabus

http://lamar.colostate.edu/~wilson/teaching/PH561/ph561-syllabus.html

 

Abstract:

 

This course is intended for first or second year graduate students (others also welcome) who wish to become familiar with the terminology and fundamental concepts of elementary particle physics. Well-prepared undergraduates may also take the course, but should consult with the instructor first.

 

Mathematical rigor will be sacrificed to breadth of scope. We will cover not only the major theoretical ideas (e.g. the quark model and quantum symmetries) but also the discoveries that lead to their development or confirmation (e.g. the observation of Rutherford scattering at 109 eV), and what lies ahead. Our discussion will include the experimental techniques used to make the measurements (e.g. particle accelerators, “drift chambers” and magnetic spectrometers).

 

Core text book:

 

Introduction to High Energy Physics 4th. Ed.:
Author: D. H. Perkins
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

 

Additional useful texts:

 

Detectors for Particle Radiation: K.Kleinknecht

Techniques for Nuclear and Particle Physics Experiments: W.R.Leo

Experimental Techniques in High Energy Physics: T. Ferbel

QED: R.Feynman

The Theory of Fundamental Processes: R.Feynman

Quarks and Leptons: F.Halzen and A.Martin

Statistics for Nuclear and Particle Physicists: Louis Lyons

The Second Creation: R.Crease and C.Mann

Experimental Foundations of Particle Physics: R.Cahn & G.Goldhaber

Particle Physics - One Hundred Years of Discoveries (Annotated Bibliography): AIP Press

 

Rough guide to course topics:

 

Historical overview.

Experimental methods: Particle detectors and accelerators.

Basic concepts: Cross-sections, units, decay rates.

Discovery and properties of leptons.

Discovery and properties of hadrons.

Cosmic rays.

Invariance principles and conservation laws.

Hadron-Hadron interactions.

Static quark model; Quark-quark interactions - Quantum Chromodynamics

Electromagnetic interactions.

Weak interactions

Force Unification.

Future facilities: Linear Collider, Underground proton decay and neutrino observatory (UNO)

Connections to cosmology.

 

Grade:

 

10%   Lecture participation

25%   Homework assignments

25%   1 written exam ~mid-term

25%   1 term paper (~10 pages)

15%   1 oral final exam

 

Assignments Policy:

Collaboration can be a great way to learn, and is the foundation of modern experimental high energy physics. The experiments are complex both in the physics goals and the technical requirements; they need the combined efforts of many talented people with a variety of backgrounds and expertise. In this course I want to encourage collaboration in class and outside of class. To that end, collaboration on assignments is OKAY. The only requirement is that whatever you hand in represents what understand and could reproduce on your own if asked.
So I can get a feeling for burgeoning collaborations, please indicate on your assignment who you collaborated with. I would also like to provide an incentive for people to help other people:  If you feel that someone gave you particularly good assistance, please indicate that on your assignment too. Those people will be rewarded!

So on the top of each assignment please write something like:

PH561 Assignment #1
Your_name                                 Date_handed_in

Collaborators:   Jim Cronin, Martin Perl (write None if there weren't, that okay too.)
Special Help:    Charlie Brown