FYSS4300 Particle Physics (8 cr)

Content

I. Particle phenomenology and calculation tools: Particle physics terminology and introduction to the Standard Model particles, interactions and Feynman graphs; relativistic kinematics in particle collisions; definition of a cross section and decay width; quantum numbers and conservation laws for leptons, quarks and gluons; space-time symmetries: Translational and rotational invariances and conservation of momentum and angular momentum, spatial inversion and parity, charge conjugation and C-parity; isospin symmetry, hadron quantum numbers and excited states; quark model of hadrons: quarkonium states, hadron spectrum and color confinement
II. Standard Model of particle physics: Basics of classical field theory: Euler-Lagrange equations, Noether's theorem, gauge symmetry in electrodynamics; basics of group theory; equations of motion in relativistic quantum mechanics: Klein-Gordon equation and Dirac equation and their solutions; quantum electrodynamics (QED): local U(1) symmetry and QED Lagrange density, QED phenomenology and computation of scattering cross sections with QED Feynman rules in leading-order perturbation theory; quantum chromodynamics (QCD): local SU(3) symmetry and QCD Lagrange density, QCD phenomenology and computation of scattering cross sections with QCD Feynman rules in leading-order perturbation theory, asymptotic freedom; electroweak unification theory: handedness of neutrinos and antineutrinos, local SU(2)xU(1) symmetry and electroweak Lagrange density, spontaneous symmetry breaking and Higgs mechanism, derivation of the Standard Model Lagrange density with massive particles, Feynman rules, electroweak phenomenology, CKM matrix and quark mixing, Higgs physics; introduction to experimental particle physics.

Completion methods

Assignments, examinations.

Assessment details

Maximum points: 80% from the final exam plus 20% from the exercises; passing the course: at least 50% of the maximum total points obtained; maximum score from the exercises: at least 80% of all the available exercise points obtained.