Particle physics I

The Standard Model (SM) of particle physics is, up to now, the most successful theory which describes Nature at the most fundamental level. This is an intermediate-level particle physics course where the SM formalism is introduced, together with the most relevant experimental methods and results that constitute its foundation.

After following this course, the student should:

- Be familiar with the Standard Model of particle physics.

- Understand its theoretical foundation, the main experimental techniques and results supporting it.

- Be able to compute physical observables, as well as to perform an analysis and interpretation of data provided by particle physics experiments.

- Be able to relate theoretical models to the corresponding experimental results

At the end of the course, the student will be well equipped to undertake more advanced studies to initiate a scientific research career, both in theoretical and experimental physics.

- Construction of the Standard Model (SM):
Symmetries of the SM; Gauge Theories and the SM Lagrangian; Higgs and mass terms. Experimental foundation of the SM; Cross sections, decay amplitudes, multiplicity distributions.

- Fundamentals of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD):
Asymptotic freedom and confinement; Deep inelastic scattering Dokshitzer-Gribov-Lipatov-Altarelli-Parisi equations. Jets in electron-positron decays and other high energy processes.

- Fundamentals of the Electro-Weak theory (EW):
Spontaneously symmetry breaking; discovery of the Higgs boson; W and Z bosons.

M. Thomson, "Modern Particle Physics", Cambridge University Press, 2013.
D. Griffiths, “Introduction to Elementary Particles”, Wiley-VCH, 2009.
S. Bettini, “Introduction to Elementary Particles Physics”, Cambridge, 2009.
M. Maggiore, "A Modern Introduction to Quantum Field Theory", Cambridge, 2005.
Yu. Dokshitzer, V. Khoze, A. Mueller, S. Troyan, “Basics of Perturbative QCD”, Editions Frontieres, 1991.
R. K. Ellis, W. J. Stirling, B. R. Webber, “QCD and Collider Physics”, Cambridge 2003.
E. Leader and E. Predazzi, “An introduction to gauge theories and modern particle physics”, Cambridge, 1996.
G.P. Salam, Elements of QCD for hadron colliders, CERN Yellow Report CERN-2010-002, 45-100 [arXiv:1011.5131 [hep-ph]].

The students will acquire and practice basic and transversal competencies, common to all the subjects of the master, like the following:

CG01 - Acquire the ability to perform team research work.
CG02 - Be able to analyze and synthesize.
CG03 - Acquire the ability to write scientific texts, articles or reports, according to professional publication standards.
CG04 - Become familiar with the different modalities used to disseminate results and disseminate knowledge in scientific meetings.
CG05 - Apply knowledge to solve complex problems.
CB6 - Possess and understand knowledge that provides a basis or opportunity to be original in the development and/or application of ideas, often in a research context
CB7 - Knowledge about how to apply the knowledge acquired and their ability to solve problems in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their area of study
CB8 - Ability to integrate knowledge and face the complexity of making judgments based on information
that, being incomplete or limited, includes reflections on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments
CB9 - Ability to communicate conclusions and the knowledge and ultimate reasons that sustain them to specialized and non-specialized audiences in a clear and unambiguous way
CB10 - Learning skills allowing to continue studying in a way that will be largely self-directed or autonomous.

Transversal competencies are

CT01 - Ability to interpret texts, documentation, reports and academic articles in English, scientific language par excellence.
CT02 - Develop the capacity to make responsible decisions in complex and/or responsible situations.

The specific competencies for this subject are:

CE06 - Become familiar with the standard model of fundamental interactions and their possible extensions.
CE07 - Acquire the training for the use of the main computational tools and the management of the main experimental techniques of Nuclear and Particle Physics.

An online Moodle course will be available on the USC Campus Virtual web page for the Particle Physics I course. All relevant teaching material will be uploaded there. We will follow the teaching methodology described in the official Physics Master Memorandum is expected to be followed. All the teaching, whether masterclasses or interactive seminars, will physically take place in the corresponding classroom. In the masterclasses all teaching material with the relevant calculations will be presented in detail, using projections and/or the blackboard. The students will be encouraged to ask questions. Seminars on specific topics will also be given whenever appropriate. Tutorial activities will require a previous appointment and could place both by telematic means and at the instructor’s office.

In the interactive-type classes, the problems will be solved and discussed preferentially by the students, who should have received the appropriate assignments well in advance. The homework may include short problems to compute physical observables, the study of the design of key experiments, new theoretical ideas, data analysis, etc. Both analytical and computation tools will be used.

The student performance will be continuously assessed during the course. Homework will be regularly assigned, to be handed it in at a given schedule. Some of it will have to be explained by the students at the blackboard. Part of the assessment may consist of short presentations on key particle physics subjects/experiments. A final written examination could exceptionally be organized.

In the event of fraudulent behavior when performing the assigned qualification tasks, the USC official Regulation on the evaluation of the student’s performance shall be applied. Article 16 of that Regulation establishes that:

The fraudulent performance of any exercise or test required in the evaluation will imply the qualification of failure (suspenso) in the corresponding call, regardless of the disciplinary process that might be followed against the offending student. It will be considered fraudulent, among other things, to plagiarize works or to copy them directly from public sources without further reinterpretation and the appropriate citations of authors and sources.

40 hours of lectures. 20 hours of interactive sessions. 2 horas of tutorial support. 88 hours of personal work.

Active participation in the classroom. Homework should be carried out on a daily basis, whenever possible, avoiding the workload to increase from week to week.