High Energy Physics
Code: 103947 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | OT | 4 |
Contact
- Name:
- Alejandro Pomarol Clotet
- Email:
- alex.pomarol@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
It is highly 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, Advanced Mathematical Methods, and to follow, in parallel, the course Advanced Quantum Mechanics. Otherwise, it will be more difficult to follow the course.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The main purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to modern particle physics, starting with how particles and interactions are defined, and using this framework to describe the electromagnetic, strong, and weak interactions, culminating in the formulation of the Standard Model of elementary particles.
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
- 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
- Make changes to methods and processes in the area of knowledge in order to provide innovative responses to society's needs and demands.
- Take account of social, economic and environmental impacts when operating within one's own area of knowledge.
- 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.
- 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, in front of both specialist and general publics.
- 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.
- Identify situations in which a change or improvement is needed.
- Identify the social, economic and environmental implications of academic and professional activities within one's own area of knowledge.
- Obtain transition amplitudes for electroweak and simple strong processes using Feynman's rules.
- Use critical reasoning, show analytical skills, correctly use technical language and develop logical arguments
- Use Feynman's rules in strong and electroweak simple processes.
- Use Noether’s theorem in quantum field theories.
- 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.
Content
- Motivation: (Book 1 and 2 of bibliography)
- Natural units
- Scales in physics
- Symmetries: (Book 2,3,4 and 5)
- Review of group theory
- Spacetime symmetries: Poincare group
- Massive and massless particle representations (Little group)
- Global symmetries
- Elementary particles: (Book 2,3,4 and 5)
- Definition of particle states
- Need for multi-particle states
- From particles to fields
- Elementary Processes: (Book 3,6 and 7)
- S-matrix & Scattering amplitudes
- Cross-section and decay width
- Perturbation theory
- Example: Scalar ABC model
- Building theories for particle interactions: (Book 3,6 and 7)
- Effective Field Theories (EFT)
- Quantum ElectroDynamics (QED): (Book 3 and 6)
- massive spin-1 interactions
- massless spin-1 interactions and need for a symmetry
- Strong Interactions: (Book 4 and 8)
- Hadrons and their approximate symmetries
- Underlying dynamics: Quantum ChromoDynamics (QCD)
- Running coupling and proton mass
- Weak Interactions: (Book 4 and 8)
- Fermi Theory
- W and Z boson and the electro-weak theory
- Higgs mechanism and Higgs particle
- Standard Model of elementary particles: (Book 4-8)
- Particle content
- Main problems in particle physics:
- Dark Matter, Quantum Gravity, unification of forces,…
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Exercises | 16 | 0.64 | 2, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 8, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 14 |
| Theory Lectures | 33 | 1.32 | 2, 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Exercises | 29 | 1.16 | 2, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 5, 8, 11, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 14 |
| Study of Theoretical Foundations | 60 | 2.4 | 2, 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 8, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 14 |
Theory Lectures and Exercises.
Classwork and Homework.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam 1st part | 20% | 3 | 0.12 | 2, 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 15, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14 |
| Exam 2n part | 70% | 3 | 0.12 | 2, 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 15, 8, 12, 14 |
| Homework | 10% | 3 | 0.12 | 2, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 15, 5, 8, 11, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 14 |
| Make-up Exam | 90% | 3 | 0.12 | 2, 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 15, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14 |
The evaluation will consist of two exams and exercises to be completed at home
Bibliography
Bibliography:
1) “The anthropic cosmological principle”, J.D. BARROW and F.J. TIPLER, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1986)
2) ”Concepts of Elementary Particle Physics, M. Pekin, Oxford University Press, 2019
3) “Fundamentals of Quantum Field Theory”, R. Luty and T. Cohen, pdf version on the campus virtual
4) "Gauge theory of elementary particle physics", T.-P. CHENG and L.-F. LI, CLARENDON PRES (OXFORD)
5) “Quantum Field Theory”, L.H. Ryder, Cambridge University Press 1996
6) "Quantum Field Theory and the Standard Model", MATTHEW D. SCHWARTZ, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
7)”Introduction to quantum field theory", M.E. Peskin and D.V. Schroeder, ISBN 0-201-50397-2
8) “QUARKS AND LEPTONS: An Introductory Course in Modern Particle Physics”, F. Halzen and A. D. Martin, JOHN WILEY &SONS
Software
It is recommended to use Mathematica Student Edition.
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | English | second semester | afternoon |
| (TE) Theory | 1 | English | second semester | morning-mixed |