The purpose of the course is to provide students with an introduction to the phenomenology of elementary particle physics, defined as the interaction between the two main spheres of activity: on the one hand, the development of the theory that describes the physical world at the sub-nuclear level and, on the other, the experimental work aimed at verifying the validity of this description and at discovering possibly new, as yet unknown and often unexpected aspects. Students will thus acquire a state-of-the-art knowledge of both theoretical and experimental elementary particle physics, together with an understanding of the mechanisms and motivations that led up to the current theoretical and experimental scheme. They will also acquire the necessary skills to analyse fundamental interactions both from the point of view of conservation and symmetry laws and with regard to kinematics and the underlying dynamics.
Expected Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will be able to: 1. Understand and describe the detailed structure of the subnuclear particles and their interactions in terms of the various existing theories. 2. Interpret and analyse simple cross-section data in elementary particle physics. 3. Understand and describe the various approaches and experimental techniques applied to the discovery of new particles. 4. Understand and describe the motivation and theoretical construction of the current standard model of fundamental interactions and its phenomenological implications.
Prerequisiti
Nuclear and sub-nuclear physics with exercise classes Quantum physics (Modules 1 and 2) Electromagnetism (Modules 1 and 2)
Metodi didattici
Conventional blackboard teaching, including exercise classes in the lecture room for a total of 64 hours.
Verifica Apprendimento
The course examination takes the form of a single final oral discussion. In order to ascertain the expositional abilities in elementary particle physics phenomenology and the level of understanding of the subject, students are asked to make a previously prepared oral presentation. During and after the presentation, questions are posed with the aim of testing the ability to reason on the subject under discussion and of verifying the level of understanding of the major topics covered during the lessons, as well as the student’s analytical and computational skills.
Contenuti
• Symmetries > parity violation in the weak interaction > the V – A formulation of weak currents > Cabibbo theory > the GIM mechanism and the CKM matrix > CP violation in the Standard Model > the CPT theorem
• Hadronic Physics > Gell-Mann's quark theory − SU(3) > Feynman's quark–parton model > the strong interaction − QCD > DIS and ep machines > asymptotic freedom & confinement > the "new" particles
• Cosmic Rays and First Discoveries > e+e– machines > resonance production & Breit−Wigner > discovery of the c and b quarks > discovery of the tau lepton > pp machines > discovery of W±, Z° and the t quark
• Elementary Particles and Fundamental Forces > the need to extend the Fermi theory of weak interactions > the spontaneous breaking of symmetries (the Higgs−Kibble mechanism) > B-meson physics > the discovery and measurement of CP violation > proton decay > the Standard Model
• General Issues > neutrino masses, oscillation and mixing > GUTs > SuSy > beyond the 4 dimensions > beyond the Standard Model
Lingua Insegnamento
English
Altre informazioni
Office hours: by appointment (contact philip.ratcliffe@uninsubria.it)