Enrollment year
2017/2018
Academic discipline
FIS/02 (THEORETICAL PHYSICS, MATHEMATICAL MODELS AND METHODS)
Department
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
Curriculum
Fisica teorica
Period
1st semester (01/10/2018 - 18/01/2019)
Lesson hours
48 lesson hours
Prerequisites
The course of Quantum Electrodynamics of the M.Sc. in Physical Sciences and basic knowledge of particle physics, as obtained for instance in the course Introduction to Subnuclear Physics of the Bachelor in Physics. Knowledge of particular Quantum Field Theory topics (e.g. renormalization) is welcome but not compulsory.
Learning outcomes
The course is an introduction to modern gauge theories, with the task of illustrating the basic theoretical concepts of the Standard Model of electroweak and strong interactions. At the end of the course, the student should have acquired at least the basic theoretical notions for a M.Sc. thesis in elementary particle physics, both theoretical and experimental.
Course contents
Quantum Electrodynamics as an abelian gauge theory. Non-abelian gauge invariance: Yang-Mills theories. Spontaneous symmetry breaking: the Goldstone theorem and the Higgs mechanism. Electrowek unified theory: Lagrangian and main phenomenological implications. The Lagrangian of Quantum ChromoDynamics (QCD): exact and approximate symmetries, main phenomenological aspects. One-loop perturbative effects: vacuum polarization in QED and QCD, asymptotic freedom in QCD. Neutrino physics.
Teaching methods
Lectures aimed at providing an illustration of all the conceptual and mathematical aspects inherent to each topic. Examples from recent and current experiments will be given during the lectures, in order to emphasize the link between theoretical predictions and experimental tests.
Reccomended or required readings
C. Quigg - Gauge Theories of the Strong, Weak and Electromagnetic Interactions - ©1983, 1997, Addison Wesley Longman, Inc.
C.M. Becchi, G. Ridolfi – An Introduction to Relativistic Processes and the Standard Model of Electroweak Interactions, Springer.
F. Mandl and G. Shaw - Quantum Field Theory - ©1994, John Wiley & Sons.
Assessment methods
Oral exam. The student will have to show to be acquainted with the formalism of gauge invariance and how it is applied in the construction of the modern theories of fundamental interactions. Also, he will have to show familiarity with the main phenomenological implications of gauge theories.
Further information
Oral exam. The student will have to show to be acquainted with the formalism of gauge invariance and how it is applied in the construction of the modern theories of fundamental interactions. Also, he will have to show familiarity with the main phenomenological implications of gauge theories.
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