Physics 557 (Fall 2007): High Energy Physics

This is a one-quarter introduction to the Standard Model of particle physics.
There will be one set of homework each 1-2 weeks.

Recommended textbooks:

• C. P. Burgess and G. D. Moore, The Standard Model, Cambridge University Press, 2007.
• F. Halzen and A. Martin, Quarks and Leptons, Willey, 1984.
• L. B. Okun', Leptons and Quarks, North-Holland, 1982.

Field theory textbooks

• M. Peskin and D. Schroeder, An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory, 1995.

References

• Particle Data Group

Lectures and corresponding reading materials

• Sep 26, 27: Free field theory of spin-0, spin-1/2, and spin-1 particles
• Oct 3, 4: spin-1/2 (continued). Renormalizability. Gauge invariant couplings. Spontaneous symmetry breaking. Higgs mechanism. Nonabelian gauge fields. Notes (last updated Oct 11)
• Oct 10, 11, 17: the Standard Model Lagrangian. Charge currents and neutral currents. The CKM matrix. Conservation laws. Reading: Chapter 2 of Burgess and Moore. Notes on the Standard Model (last updated Oct 25).
• Oct 18, 24: Decay of W, Z bosons. Fermi's golden rule. Summation over polarizations. Trace technology. Phase space. Decay channels of standard model Higgs boson.
• Oct 25: Weak interactions at low energies. Fermi theory. Decay of muon. Kinematics of three-body decay.
• Oct 21, Nov 1: scattering processes, cross sections.
• Nov 7, 8: electron-position annihilation. Strong interactions, asymptotic freedom
• Nov 14: Quarkonia: potential, spectrum, quantum numbers. Discrete symmetries C and P.

Homeworks

• Homework set 1 (added one more problem Oct 4 5PM, due Oct 11), Solution.
• Homework set 2 (corrected; due Oct 24, deadline extended to Oct 25). (Part of the solution: see Note on two Higgs model)
• Homework set 3 (due Nov 8)
• Homework set 4 (due Nov 29)
• Homework set 5 (instead of final, due Dec 13)