B2187 - PHENOMENOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL FLAVOUR PHYSICS

Academic Year 2023/2024

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will become familiar with the basic concepts of heavy flavor and neutrino physics. He/she will be acquainted with the rich CKM and PMNS phenomenology, from CP violation in the hadronic and leptonic sectors up to search for New Physics through the measurement of rare decays.

Course contents

The course is divided into two modules:

  • Module 1: weak hadronic interaction and CP violation (24 hours prof. Angelo Carbone)
  • Module 2: flavour physics in the letponic sector (24 hours prof. Maximiliano Sioli)

For both modules, after a brief introduction of the theoretical framework, phenomenological and experimental aspects will be also presented.

Module 1: weak hadronic interaction and CP violation

The quark mixing and the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix. The weak neutral current. Quantum mechanic oscillations in the K, D, and B meson systems and experimental results. CP violation in the K, D, and B meson decays and experimental results. The Unitarity Triangle of the CKM matrix and the current experimental knowledge. Rare K, D, and B decays and experimental results. The indirect search for New Physics with the flavor physics experiment.

Module 2: flavour physics in the letponic sector

Charged and neutral leptons in the Standard Model. Physics of massive neutrinos. Mechanisms of neutrino mass generation. Neutrino cross sections. Experimental searches in the framework of seesaw mechanisms (colliders, beam dumps). Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay. Flavor mixing and CP violation in the neutral sector. Short/medium/long baselines (accelerators and reactors). Connection with Cosmology. Leptogenesis. Dark sector. Flavor violation in the charged sector. Electron and muon magnetic dipole moments.

Readings/Bibliography

CP violation, Bigi and Sanda

Modern Particle Physics - Thomson, Mark

C. Giunti and C. W. Kim, “Fundamentals of Neutrino Physics and Astrophysics”, Oxford University Press, 2007

Teaching methods

The lecture will be held on the blackboard (or table) and are supplemented by video projection and slides.

Assessment methods

The exam will be written for both modules. Each of the two modules will have five questions, one of which is more detailed. It is possible to agree on a possible oral exam (optional and can be done only once for each written exam), if the written exam is passed. In agreement with the University regulations, it is possible to refuse the final grade only once. It is also specified that the grade of the last written piece is valid and not the best. During the exams, it is not possible to consult texts and notes. A calculator is allowed.

IMAPP students: please note that you have to complete all the exams before starting the internship in March, which means that the exams of this course must be given during the winter exam session.  

 

Teaching tools

Lecture notes are available on https://virtuale.unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Angelo Carbone

See the website of Maximiliano Sioli