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SI3300 Theoretical Particle Physics 7.5 credits

Teoretisk partikelfysik

"Theoretical Particle Physics" will give the students fundamental knowledge about the systematics and reactions of particles within the framework of the so-called Standard Model.

  • Educational level

    Third cycle

  • Academic level (A-D)

    D

  • Subject area

  • Grade scale

At present this course is not scheduled to be offered.

Learning outcomes

After completed course, the PhD student should be able to:

  • know and describe the standard model of particle physics.
  • compute decay rates and cross-sections with help of relativistic kinematics.
  • use symmetries to restrict the form of the S-matrix, for example, isospin, discrete symmetries, and spacetime symmetries.
  • give an account of and describe the static properties of the hadrons from the quark model.
  • know the basic principles of the electroweak theory.
  • have knowledge about how deep inelastic scattering shows the existence of quarks in the nucleons.
  • know about basic neutrino physics and describe neutrino oscillations.

Course main content

Introductory survey. Conservation laws. Basic reaction theory. Feynman diagrams. Lorentz invariance. One particle states. Binary reactions. Determination of mass. Scattering theory (the S-matrix, decay rate, scattering cross-section). Symmetries. Time-reversal. Space-reflection. Charge conjugation. The tensor method for determination of spin and parity of particles. Isospin. Strangeness. The quark model. Color. Hadron spectroscopy. Quarkonium. Electroweak interaction of quarks. The Higgs mechanism. Deep inelastic scattering. Neutrino physics. Neutrino oscillations.

Eligibility

Relativity Theory.
Advanced Quantum Mechanics.
Relativistic Quantum Physics (recommended).

Literature

There is no course book, but there are several books that can be used:

  • W.N. Cottingham and D.A. Greenwood, An Introduction to the Standard Model of Particle Physics, 2nd ed., Cambridge (2007)
  • D. Griffiths, Introduction to Elementary Particles, Wiley (1987)
  • F. Halzen and A.D. Martin, Quarks and Leptons, Wiley (1984)
  • Q. Ho-Kim and X.-Y. Pham, Elementary Particles and Their Interactions - Concepts and Phenomena, Springer (1998)
  • A. Seiden, Particle Physics - A Comprehensive Introduction, Addison-Wesley (2005)
  • H. Snellman, Elementary Particle Physics, KTH (2004)

Examination

Requirements for final grade

Hand in assignments and an oral exam.

Offered by

SCI/Theoretical Physics

Contact

Alexander Merle

Examiner

Tommy Ohlsson <tohlsson@kth.se>

Version

Course plan valid from: Spring 09.