PHYSICS 585-01
Elementary Particle Physics
Spring 2014
Natural Science 306
MW 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
Instructor:Dr. C. L. Davis
Office:Room 205, Natural Science Building
Office hours:Monday 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am - 11:00 am
or by appointment
Telephone:852-0852
E-Mail:
WWW:
Text:No formal required text
INTRODUCTION
This course provides an introduction to elementary particle physics at the senior undergraduate/first year graduate level. Basic physics pre-requisites are one semester of senior level electricity and magnetism and one semester of quantum mechanics.
Particle physics is a comparatively new field, new developments, both experimental and theoretical, continue to occur on a regular basis. The "Standard Model" - a combination of the electro-weak theory and Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) - appears to provide the basis for most experimentally observed phenomena. However, it is only a model, and as such requires significant phenomenological input in the assignment of its many parameters. Most current high energy experiments are designed to verify predictions of the "Standard Model" or look for evidence of physics beyond the “Standard Model”. For these reasons the material presented in the course will always be discussed with an eye on the experimental aspects. How is/was this property measured, with what accuracy and how could a better measurement be made. Mathematical rigor will frequently be set aside to emphasize the "physical" ideas behind particular phenomena.
Being a relatively new field the definitive particle physics textbook has not yet been written. That is not to say that there are no good texts available. However, I not have recommended a specific text for the course, rather a list of books which cover the material presented in the course is provided below. For the purpose of succeeding in this course it may not be necessary to purchase any text. Many of the books listed below are available in the library.
Introduction to Elementary Particle Physics – A. Bettini
Elementary Particles - I. S. Hughes
Introduction to High Energy Physics – D. H. Perkins
The Ideas of Particle Physics – G. D. Coughlan and J. E. Dodd
Particle Physics - Martin and Shaw
Introduction to Elementary Particles – Griffith (theoretical)
Particles and Nuclei - Povh, Rith, Scholz, Zetsche
Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics – Das and Ferbel
Quarks and Leptons – Halzen and Martin (very theoretical)
Particles and Nuclei – Segre (reference text, may be dated)
A course outline describing the projected topics to be discussed in this course is provided at the end of this course description.
GRADES
Grades will be determined from the total score obtained in the following way,
Undergraduate / GraduateTest 1 (Feb. 26) / 25% / 20%
Final (April 25) / 25% or 50% (see below) / 40%
Homework / 25% / 20%
Paper / 25% or 0% (see below) / 20%
The dates given above are tentative. There will be no make-ups for missed tests.
Since I do not teach this course on a regular basis, the grading scale is not well defined. My hope is to assign grades with reference to the highest individual overall score, Smax, as below, with +- grades at 3.33% intervals within these boundaries.
A >Smax - 10%
Smax - 10% >B >Smax - 20%
Smax - 20% >C >Smax - 30%
Smax - 30% >D >Smax - 40%
Smax - 40% >F
Based on prior grading experience you can expect the absolute low ranges for each letter grade to be approximately 70% (A), 55% (B), 40% (C), 30% (D). Given this uncertainty I reserve the right to review the grading criteria as the semester progresses. You are encouraged to enquire about your current grade status at any time during the semester.
TEST/FINAL
Both the "mid-term" test and the final will be primarily IN CLASS examinations. However, it is possible that in both cases there may be a "take-home" component. Details will be provided closer to the test dates. The final examination will consist of two equally weighted parts. Part one will cover material discussed since the first test while part two will cover all the material discussed in the course. Both parts are required for undergraduate and graduate students, except in the case of undergraduate students as described below. All tests will be "closed book", nor will you be allowed a formula sheet.
Since the material covered in the course will, to some extent, be determined by the prior knowledge of the enrolled students it is not possible to define the topics that will be covered before the first test. Rest assured that the material on which you will be tested will be made clear well before the test itself.
PAPER
All graduate students will be required to write a paper covering a topical subject in particle physics. Undergraduates may elect to write a paper rather than take the comprehensive part of the final exam. The subjects of the papers will be assigned randomly within the first few weeks of the semester. Undergraduates must make their decision - paper or comprehensive final - at the time the subjects of the papers are assigned. Once the decision is made it cannot be reversed. All papers must be submitted no later than April 2.
The level at which your paper should be written is that it be comprehensible to any of the other students registered in the class. I am not looking for a document at the Physical Review level, something at the level of Scientific American is more appropriate. What is important is that it be obvious in reading the paper that you have performed a literature and web search - text books, "popular" books, magazines, both general (Scientific American, Nature, etc.) and specific (CERN Courier, Symmetry, Physics Today, Physics World), review articles, recognized authorative web sites etc. - and have provided a complete picture of your particular subject. The paper must be type written including diagrams, pictures and equations where appropriate, and must include a complete bibliography of all your sources. I am not requiring a specific page length, what is more important is that you provide a complete discussion of your particular subject at the appropriate level. Previous papers have been anywhere from 5 to 20 double-spaced 10pt pages excluding diagrams. Please note that papers are due more than two weeks before the end of the semester. This is deliberate, in order to avoid conflicts with final exam preparation. The score assigned to papers submitted late will be reduced by 50% for every week after the due date.
The grade for the paper will be primarily based upon written content. Depending upon a number of factors, which will become apparent only after the course has begun, you will likely be required to make a brief presentation (PowerPoint or otherwise) of the important points in your paper to the rest of the class. If this is the case, the quality of your presentation will make up the remainder of the paper’s grade.
HOMEWORK
Homework will be assigned periodically throughout the semester. Each homework assignment will consist of several problems. I anticipate a total of five or six assignments in the semester. Homework is normally due one week from the date of assignment. Late homework will be penalized with a 50% reduction and will not be accepted more than one week late.
Partial credit will be awarded. This means you should always submit your attempt at a solution even if you are unable to arrive at the final answer. However, I will not grade your "scratch-pad". Solutions, or attempts at solutions, should be laid out neatly and logically, explaining all the terms you use and including diagrams where necessary. If in doubt always write more rather than less.
Upon receiving a homework assignment, my recommendation is to make a first pass attempt at all the problems as soon as possible, in an effort to identify any potential difficulties. This will allow you the maximum time to workon them before the due date. I will be very sympathetic to requests for assistance several days before an assignment is due; my sympathy will decrease quite quickly as the due date approaches. You are encouraged to discuss the problems with fellow class members; this can be beneficial to all involved. However, I expect individual solutions; a single solution submitted by several individuals is almost always obvious and will be considered a single solution. That is, each individual will receive a fraction of the total points awarded for the solution equal to the reciprocal of the number of individuals submitting the same solution.
CLASS PARTICIPATION
When a course does not follow one specific textbook it is particularly important that students are present at all class meetings. If you miss a class, catching up may not be as simple as reading the through the next section in the text. In addition, when learning new material, lectures provide the opportunity to ask questions as well as clarifying explanations. In order to ensure that you avail yourself of this opportunity class participation will be monitored throughout the semester. Participation does not mean that you are required to ask questions or be otherwise vocal in class; attendance in and of itself is a type of participation.
The following criteria will be followed; your final grade will be reduced by one ± letter grade for every complete multiple of 5 (unexcused) class absences. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late for class you are deemed to be absent. For example, if at the end of the semester you earn a B+ from tests and homework, but missed a total of 12 class meetings, your grade will be reduced by 2 ± letter grades; your final grade will be a B-.
COURSE OUTLINE
Core Topics
(i)Overview of particle physics
(ii)Relativistic kinematics
(iii)Historical development
(iv)Quarks and leptons
(v)Basic particle interactions and properties
(vi)Invariance principles and conservation laws
(vii)Cross-sections, phase space, parity of various types
(viii)Accelerators and detectors
Additional Topics
(ix)Weak Interactions
Fermi theory, v-A theory, Parity non-conservation, π, μ decay, weak neutral currents, GIM mechanism- charm, W±, Z0 observation, K0 decay and regeneration, CP violation.
(x)Electromagnetic Interactions
Feynman diagrams and rules, relativistic quantum mechanics - Dirac equation, Quantum Electrodynamics.
(xi)Static Quark Model of Hadrons
Baryons, mesons, quark flavour and colour, heavy quark spectroscopy, mass relations, Zweig's rule, SU(3)and beyond.
(xii)Parton Model and QCD via Lepton Scattering
Deep inelastic lepton scattering, structure functions, Drell-Yan process, e+e- annihilation,QCD at large and small distances.
(xiii)Unification
Higgs Boson, standard model, gauge invariance, electro-weak unification - Weinberg-Salam experimental tests, neutrino oscillations, GUTS, supersymmetry, strings, cosmology.
All core material will be covered. The extent to which the additional topics are covered will be dependent on the speed at which the core topics are covered. Topics marked in bold will almost certainly be covered in some depth. Topics underlined are likely to be discussed only briefly. The remaining topics will at least be mentioned in passing and in any case will serve as ideas for reading beyond the requirements of the course.