Skip to main content Skip to navigation

PX455 Frontiers of Particle Physics

Lecturer: John Marshall
Weighting: 15 CATS

The Standard Model of Particle Physics (SM) describes well the nature of, and interactions between, fundamental particles. In this module we will look at the challenges the SM still faces. These include the origin of the baryon asymmetry of the Universe (the observation that the universe is dominated by matter over antimatter), the nature of neutrino mass and possible new particles at high energy. We will look at the theoretical and experimental aspects of these questions, placing emphasis on the future research planned in the field.


Aims:
To investigate areas of current research in the field of particle physics. The module should explain the theoretical background to these questions, and develop an appreciation for the experimental techniques required to study them. It should cover some of the plans for future research in particle physics.

Objectives:
By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Describe the basic theoretical ideas, and experimental approaches to the solution of three of the puzzles challenging the Standard Model
  • Discuss the plans and direction of research in particlephysics in the future

Syllabus:

    1. Introduction to the general research landscape of particle physics
    2. The baryon asymmetry of the Universe and CP violation
    3. Quark flavour mixing and CP violation in the quark sector
    4. Lepton flavour mixing and CP violation in the lepton sector
    5. The puzzle of neutrino mass
    6. Investigating the high energy frontier of particle physics

    Commitment: 30 Lectures

    Assessment: 2 hour examination

    Recommended Texts:
    M. Thomson, Modern Particle Physics