High Energy Physics
Code: 103947 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2500097 Physics | OT | 4 | 2 |
Contact
- Name:
- Rafel Escribano Carrascosa
- Email:
- Rafel.Escribano@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- english (eng)
- Some groups entirely in English:
- Yes
- Some groups entirely in Catalan:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Spanish:
- No
Teachers
- Jan Olle Aguilera
Prerequisites
It is recommended to have followed the courses Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Theoretical Mechanics and Non-linear Systems, and Electrodynamics and Synchrotron Radiation, and to follow, in parallel, the course Advanced Quantum Mechanics.
It is also recommended to have followed the course Advanced Mathematical Methods.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The main purpose of this course is to give an introduction to modern particle physics starting from the presentation of what the world is made of and finishing with the formulation of the Standard Model.
Competences
- Apply fundamental principles to the qualitative and quantitative study of various specific areas in physics
- Be familiar with the bases of certain advanced topics, including current developments on the parameters of physics that one could subsequently develop more fully
- Carry out academic work independently using bibliography (especially in English), databases and through collaboration with other professionals
- Communicate complex information in an effective, clear and concise manner, either orally, in writing or through ICTs, and before both specialist and general publics
- Develop critical thinking and reasoning and know how to communicate effectively both in the first language(s) and others
- Develop independent learning strategies
- Formulate and address physical problems identifying the most relevant principles and using approximations, if necessary, to reach a solution that must be presented, specifying assumptions and approximations
- Generate innovative and competitive proposals for research and professional activities.
- Respect the diversity and plurality of ideas, people and situations
- Use critical reasoning, show analytical skills, correctly use technical language and develop logical arguments
- Use mathematics to describe the physical world, selecting appropriate tools, building appropriate models, interpreting and comparing results critically with experimentation and observation
- Using appropriate methods, plan and carry out a study or theoretical research and interpret and present the results
- Work independently, have personal initiative and self-organisational skills in achieving results, in planning and in executing a project
- Working in groups, assume shared responsibilities and interact professionally and constructively with others, showing absolute respect for their rights.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse approaches at tree-level for electroweak and strong simple processes.
- Analyse the limits of high and low energy for electroweak and strong simple processes.
- Apply gauge invariance for the Lagrangian determination of electroweak interactions and quantum chromodynamics.
- Calculate cross sections of electroweak and strong simple processes.
- Communicate complex information in an effective, clear and concise manner, either orally, in writing or through ICTs, in front of both specialist and general publics.
- Develop critical thinking and reasoning and communicate ideas effectively, both in the mother tongue and in other languages.
- Develop independent learning strategies.
- Establish the bases for the comprehensive formulation of Abelian and non-Abelian quantum field theories.
- Formulate the bases for elementary particle-detection techniques.
- From a specific initial and final state, structure and develop the strategy and calculation for the cross section of a strong or electroweak process.
- Generate innovative and competitive proposals for research and professional activities.
- Obtain transition amplitudes for electroweak and simple strong processes using Feynman’s rules.
- Respect diversity in ideas, people and situations.
- Use Feynman’s rules in strong and electroweak simple processes.
- Use critical reasoning, show analytical skills, correctly use technical language and develop logical arguments
- Work independently, take initiative itself, be able to organize to achieve results and to plan and execute a project.
- Working in groups, assume shared responsibilities and interact professionally and constructively with others, showing absolute respect for their rights.
- Carry out academic work independently using bibliography (especially in English), databases and through collaboration with other professionals
Content
1) A preview of Particle Physics: general introduction
2) General and formal aspects: relativity, cross section and lifetime, symmetries and conservation laws
3) Quantum numbers and spectroscopy: mass, spin, parity (P), time reversal (T), charge conjugation (C), CP violation, CPT theorem, isospin, hypercharge, the quark model
4) Interactions: electrodynamics of leptons and hadrons, weak interactions, gauge theories, electroweak theory, the Higgs boson, strong interactions
5) Open topics: neutrino oscillations, grand unification, matter/antimatter asymmetry, supersymmetry, strings, extra dimensions, dark matter, dark energy
Methodology
Theory Lectures and Exercises.
Classwork and Homework.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Exercises | 16 | 0.64 | 2, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 6, 8, 10, 9, 12, 15, 16, 17, 14 |
| Theory Lectures | 33 | 1.32 | 2, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 9, 12, 15, 14 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Discussion, Work Groups, Group Exercises | 29 | 1.16 | 2, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 6, 8, 10, 18, 9, 11, 12, 15, 13, 16, 17, 14 |
| Study of Theoretical Foundations | 57 | 2.28 | 2, 1, 3, 4, 7, 6, 8, 10, 9, 12, 15, 16, 17, 14 |
Assessment
1st. part: one exam and one homework;
2nd. part: one exam and one homework;
In order to participate in the make-up exam you have to be evaluated of the two partial exams without requiring a minimal mark;
The make-up exam covers the whole subject;
You can come to the make-up exam to improve your mark. If so, your final mark will be that of this exam.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam: 1st. Part | 35% | 3 | 0.12 | 2, 1, 3, 4, 7, 6, 8, 10, 9, 12, 15, 14 |
| Exam: 2nd. Part | 35% | 3 | 0.12 | 2, 1, 3, 4, 7, 6, 8, 10, 9, 12, 15, 14 |
| Homework: 1st. Part | 15% | 3 | 0.12 | 2, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 6, 8, 10, 18, 9, 11, 12, 15, 13, 16, 17, 14 |
| Homework: 2nd. Part | 15% | 3 | 0.12 | 2, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 6, 8, 10, 18, 9, 11, 12, 15, 13, 16, 17, 14 |
| Make-up Exam | 70% | 3 | 0.12 | 2, 1, 3, 4, 7, 6, 8, 10, 9, 12, 15, 14 |
Bibliography
"Introduction to Elementary Particles", D. Griffiths, Wiley-VCH
"Particle Physics", B. R. Martin and G. Shaw, Wiley
"The Standard Model in a Nutshell", D. Goldberg, Princeton Univ. Press
"Quarks and Leptons: An Introductory Course in Modern Particle Physics", F. Halzen and A. D. Martin, John Wiley & Sons