69700 - Phenomenology of Fundamental Interactions

Academic Year 2017/2018

  • Moduli: Sylvie Braibant (Modulo 1) Silvia Arcelli (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Physics (cod. 8025)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student acquires, through a mainly phenomenological treatment, a good knowledge of the most significant and actual experimental topics of particle physics in various types of subnuclear interactions. In particular, the student is introduced to the formalism of the Standard Model, the theory that describes elementary constituents and their interactions, as well as of to some searches of indications of physics beyond the Standard Model. The student acquires an overview of the main experimental evidences and of new challenges, integrating the notions acquired in other courses of the same curriculum of the degree in physics.

Course contents

At the end of the course, the student acquires, through a mainly phenomenological treatment, a good knowledge of the most significant and actual experimental topics of particle physics in various types of subnuclear interactions. In particular, the student is introduced to the formalism of the Standard Model, the theory that describes elementary constituents and their interactions, as well as of to some searches of indications of physics beyond the Standard Model. The student acquires an overview of the main experimental evidences and of new challenges, integrating the notions acquired in other courses of the same curriculum of the degree in physics.

 

-- Modulo II: – Weak interactions: charged weak currents and V-A theory.Cabibbo angle and absence of FCNC-The GIM mechanism.-Discovery of the J/psi,tau and Upsilon in e+e- collisions – The Electroweak Interaction: Glashow-Weinberg-Salam model- Discovery of the weak neutral current. Measurements of the Weimberg angle. Electroweak intereference at PETRA. Discovery of the W and Z Boson at the SPS. Precision tests of the Standard Model at LEP –Phenomenology and experimental evidences of QCD in e+e- collisions: asymptotic freedom and confinement, alfa_s running, jets, multihadron production

-- Modulo I: – CP violation and oscillations in the K and B meson systems: experimental evidences and interpretation. The (Brout-Englert-Hagen-Guralnik-Kibble-)Higgs boson: experimental searches and evidence. – Phenomenology of proton-proton collisions at LHC: examples of experimental measurements of particular interest. – Searches for experimental indications of new physics beyond the Standard Model (SUSY, GUTs, extra dimensions, etc.).

Readings/Bibliography

-"The Experimental Foundations of Particle Physics", R.Cahn and G. Goldhaber, Cambrige University Press
- "Quarks & Leptons: An introductory Course in Modern Particle Physics", F. Halzen and A.D. Martin, ed. J. Wiley & sons
- "Nuclei e Particelle", E. Segrè, ed. Zanichelli
- "Electron-Positron Annihilation Physics", B.Foster, pub. A. Hilger
- "Particelle e interazioni fondamentali" , S. Braibant, G.Giacomelli, M. Spurio, Springer: collana di Fisica e Astronomia ISBN 978-88-470-2753-4
- "Particles and Fundamental Interactions - An Introduction to Particle Physics", S. Braibant, G. Giacomelli, M. Spurio, Springer series: Undergraduate Lecture Notes in Physics ISBN 978-94-007-2463-1
- "Particles and Fundamental Interactions: Supplements, Problems and Solutions - A Deeper Insight into Particle Physics" S. Braibant, G. Giacomelli, M. Spurio, Springer series: Undergraduate Lecture Notes in Physics ISBN 978-94-007-4134-8

Teaching methods

Lectures and exercises

Assessment methods

Oral examination

Teaching tools

video projector

Office hours

See the website of Silvia Arcelli

See the website of Sylvie Braibant