University of Wisconsin
Physics 735: Particle Physics
Fall 2008

Lecturer: Sridhara Dasu

Lecture Schedule: 13:00 - 14:15 on Tuesdays and Thursdays (Makeup lectures on Wednesdays 19:00-20:15 from 09/17)
Lecture Room: 2116 Chamberlin Hall

Office Hours: By appointment – send email
Office Location: 4289 Chamberlin Hall

Class Email: physics735-1-f08@lists.wisc.edu (use for discussion)

Course Description: This course provides an introduction to modern particle physics. The goal of the course is to prepare graduate students for research in particle physics and related areas. Using Feynman rules for the electromagnetic, weak and strong interactions we calculate scattering cross sections and decay rates. We discuss the measurments of the Standard Model parameters from the current particle physics experiments, and look for beyond the Standard Model effects. The topics covered will include electro-weak symmetry breaking and higgs mechansim, neutrino oscillations, and, quark mixing.

Requirements: Physics 535, 731 or equivalent or consent of instructor.

Required Books:

  1. Francis Halzen and Alan D. Martin, Quarks & Leptons: An Introductory Course in Modern Particle Physics,
    John Wiley, ISBN 0-471-88741-2 [HM]
  2. Review of Particle Physics, Particle Data Group, Physics Letters B592, 2004.
    Order your copy free or download sections from http://pdg.lbl.gov
    Download and print just the reviews or the whole file with detailed listings. [PDG]

Recommended Textbooks:

  1. I. J. R. Aitchison and A. J. G. Hey, Gauge Theories in Particle Physics, Volumes I & II, Third Edition,
    Institute of Physics, ISBN 0-7503-0864-8 [AH]
  2. Abraham Seiden, Particle Physics: A Comprehensive Introduction,
    Benjamin Cummings, ISBN: 0-8053-8736-6 [S]
  3. Chris Quigg, Gauge Theories of the Strong, Weak, and Electromagnetic Interactions,
    Advanced Book Classics, Westview Press, ISBN 0-201-32832-1 [Q]

References for Advanced Students:

  1. Vernon Barger, Collider Physics
  2. Michael Peskin and Schroeder, Quantum Field Theory

Course Schedule (Wednesday makeup lectures are given at 7pm - with pizza provided :) ):

Lecture
 Date Topic Reading material
Homework Due
01
 02 Sep 2008 Introduction HM Chapter 1, PPT, PDF
.
02
 04 Sep 2008 Introduction HM Chapter 1, (same as above)
.
03
 09 Sep 2008 Kinematics, E&M and QM PDG Ch.38
.
04
 11 Sep 2008 Relativistic QM HM Chapter 3
.
05
 16 Sep 2008 Field Theory AH Chapter 5
.
06
 17 Sep 2008 Interacting Scalar Fields AH Chapter 6
.
07
 18 Sep 2008 Interacting Scalar Fields AH Chapter 6
.
 23 Sep 2008 No Lecture Dasu in Geneva
.
.
 25 Sep 2008 No Lecture Dasu in Geneva
.
08
 30 Sep 2008 Complex, Spinor & Vector Fields AH Chapter 7
.
09
 01 Oct 2008 Complex, Spinor & Vector Fields AH Chapter 7
.
10
 02 Oct 2008 Scalar Electrodynamics HM Chapter 4
11
 07 Oct 2008 QED HM Chapter 5
.
12
 08 Oct 2008 QED HM Chapter 6
.
13
 09 Oct 2008 QED HM Chapter 6
.
14
 14 Oct 2008 QED HM Chapter 7
.
15
 15 Oct 2008 Electron-Proton Scattering HM Chapter 8
.
16
 16 Oct 2008 DIS - Parton Model HM Chapter 8, 9
.
17
 21 Oct 2008 DIS - Quark-Parton Model HM Chapter 9, 10
.
18
 22 Oct 2008 DIS - QCD HM Chapter 10
.
19
 23 Oct 2008 e+–e– annihilation - QCD HM Chapter 11
20
 28 Oct 2008 Weak Interactions HM Chapter 12
.
21
 29 Oct 2008 Weak Interactions HM Chapter 12
.
22
 30 Oct 2008 Weak Interactions HM Chapter 12
.
.
 04 Nov 2008 No Lecture Dasu in Geneva
.
.
 06 Nov 2008 No Lecture Dasu in Geneva
.
23
 11 Nov 2008 Electro-weak HM Chapter 13
.
24
 12 Nov 2008 Electro-weak HM Chapter 13
.
25
 13 Nov 2008 Electro-weak HM Chapter 14
26
 18 Nov 2008 Electro-weak HM Chapter 14,15
.
27
 20 Nov 2008 Electro-weak Chris Quigg Lectures (pp 120-160)
.
.
 25 Nov 2008 No Lecture Thanksgiving
.
.
 27 Nov 2008 No Lecture Thanksgiving
.
28
 02 Dec 2008 Quark Mixing - CKM Dasu Seminar Extracts
.
.
 03 Dec 2008 Project Presentations Agenda
.
29
 04 Dec 2008 Neutrino Physics Status Boris Kayser Lectures