PHYSICS 564 Introduction to Particle Physics I Prof. Norbert Neumeister Department of Physics Purdue University Fall 2016 http://www.physics.purdue.edu/phys564
Course Format Lectures: Time: Tuesday, Thursday 12:00 13:15 Lecture Room: PHYS 390 Instructor: Prof. N. Neumeister Office hours: Tuesday 2:00 3:00 PM (or by appointment) Office: PHYS 372 Phone: 49-45198 Email: neumeist@purdue.edu (please use subject: PHYS 564) Because of the low number of students the class will be flexible It will be organized as a mixture of formal lectures and reading assignments
Textbook Additional references: Particle Data Group The Particle Adventure The textbook is: The Particle Detector Briefbook Ch. Joram: Particle Detectors Introduction to Elementary Particle Physics, Alessandro Bettini, 2 nd edition We will loosely follow the textbook. Not necessary to have a book but useful for further explanation. Decide for yourself if you want to buy one.
A few recommended Books D. Griffiths, Introduction to Elementary Particles, (2 nd ed., Wiley-VCH, 2008). Excellent text covers material at approximately right level; more theoretical details. F. Halzen and A.D. Martin, Quarks & Leptons: An Introductory Course in Modern Particle Physics, (1 st ed., Wiley, 1984). Focus on theory. D.H. Perkins, Introduction to High Energy Physics, (4 th ed., Cambridge University Press, 2000). Classic text which covers most core topics. B. Martin and G. Shaw, Particle Physics, (3 rd ed., Wiley, 2008). Good introduction to phenomenology. Bettini is more experimentally oriented, Griffiths has more theoretical details.
Introduction Syllabus Brief history of Particle Physics Kinematics, Units Particle Accelerators Particle Detectors Cross sections and Decays Quarks and Leptons Symmetries Electromagnetic Interactions Strong Interactions Weak Interactions Standard Model
Lectures Introduction to the subject Provide motivation for further reading Feel free to stop me and ask questions I will switch between blackboard and electronic formats, depending on whether derivations or pictures & plots are shown Lecture slides will be made available after lectures Slides not available for all lectures You will need to take notes Attendance required
Homework Developing problem-solving skills There will be 10 homework assignments. Problem sets will be assigned each Tuesday. The homework is due and has to be brought to the lecture on Thursday of the following week. Students may discuss the problems with each other in a general way but should not do the homework as a group effort. No carbon copy homework sets are acceptable. Further, the problem solutions should be clearly and neatly written on one side only of standard size paper. Your fellow students should be able to read, follow and understand the solutions. The quality of the presentation counts towards the grade.
Project Instead of the usual final exam, a research paper with both written and oral presentations is required Write a brief review paper and present a twentyminute seminar on a topic selected from a list I will provide a list of possible topics Starting literature will be provided and students will be expected to find additional resources Use LaTeX and learn how to write a scientific paper A short oral report around end of the semester Mini-symposium Your fellow students should be able to follow and understand your presentation/paper
Exams and Grades Exams: There will be one midterm exam and a final paper. Midterm Exam: November 1, 2016 Grades: The final grade will be determined on the following basis: 30% homework 30% midterm exam 40% final paper We will use plus/minus letter grades. The exact cut-offs for letter grades will not be determined until the end of the semester.
Objectives The course should give you a basic understanding of all the major concepts in particle physics, which are integrated into the Standard Model. Emphasis is on phenomenology Interplay between theory and experiments We will also cover some of the historical development of the subject, and experimental techniques used. Gain sufficient proficiency in particle physics phenomena and phenomenology, so that Experimentalists can begin research Theorists can build on the foundation provided
Aims The main aim of this course is to teach the fundamentals of the Standard Model of Particle Physics This is not intended to be a formal course in particle theory Concurrently you may take a more formal course in field theory (PHYS 662/663). The field theory course will serve as a more formal complement to the treatment given in this class. By the end of the course, you are expected to: Know what are the basic constituents of the Standard Model, the quarks and leptons and the interactions between them and to be able to use Feynman diagrams to classify and illustrate these interactions Understand the conservation rules, quantum numbers and basic quark parton model upon which the Standard Model is built Be able to explain the basics of electroweak interactions Understand the experimental observation of neutrino mixing and appreciate its implications for neutrino masses Appreciate the limitations of the Standard Model and understand how some of these limitations are overcome in other models
Emergency Preparedness To report an emergency, call 911. To obtain updates regarding an ongoing emergency, sign up for Purdue Alert text messages, view www.purdue.edu/ea. There are nearly 300 Emergency Telephones outdoors across campus and in parking garages that connect directly to the PUPD. If you feel threatened or need help, push the button and you will be connected immediately. If we hear a fire alarm during class we will immediately suspend class, evacuate the building, and proceed outdoors. Do not use the elevator. If we are notified during class of a Shelter in Place requirement for a tornado warning, we will suspend class and shelter in [the basement]. If we are notified during class of a Shelter in Place requirement for a hazardous materials release, or a civil disturbance, including a shooting or other use of weapons, we will suspend class and shelter in the classroom, shutting the door and turning off the lights. Please review the Emergency Preparedness website for additional information. http://www.purdue.edu/ehps/emergency_preparedness/index.html