PHZ-5355 High Energy Physics II
High Energy Physics involves the search for the fundamental constituents of matter and the laws that govern their interactions. During the time that I have been studying physics I have been privileged to participate in the evolution of this field from a state characterized by separate models of the strong, weak, and electromagnetic interactions of hadrons to the present where we have the Standard Model which provides a sound field-theoretic basis for the strong, weak, and electromagnetic interactions of the fundamental quarks and leptons. One purpose of this course is to help you to develop an understanding of the Standard Model and how it can be used to describe phenomena observed in high energy collisions. As you gain understanding of the Standard Model, you will appreciate that there are still unanswered questions about the structure of the theory and its description of observed phenomena. Therefore, an important aspect of current high energy research is the search for phenomea NOT described by the Standard Model which, therefore, would require some modification or extension of the theory. Such searches tend to be described by such unfortunate terms as ``new physics'' or, somewhat more colloquially, as BSM - Beyond the Standard Model.
This course will have multiple instructors who will cover various topics in theoretical and experimental high energy physics. The list includes Profs. Owens, Reina, Okui, Adams, Askew, and Prosper.
In order to obtain a basic understanding of the Standard Model and the ideas upon which it is based, one must work actual examples - just hearing the words is not sufficient. Accordingly, homework problems will be assigned on a regular basis. A list of the assignments will be posted on this web site and will be updated as needed. The grading scheme will be based on a combination of homework grades (50 %), a research paper on a topic of your choice (40 %), and class participation (10 %). The latter is very important, since there is no single assigned text for this course. Instructions for the paper can be found on the course web site.
A schedule of the lectures may be found on the web site here. Nevertheless, there remains some flexibility in the course content and additional items can always be included should the demand arise. The indiviual instructors will set their own office hours. You are encouraged to come by and discuss any questions you might have. Alternatively, you can send e-mail to the appropriate instructor.
All class meetings will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 - 2:15 PM in UPL 110.
Useful References:
1. It is strongly recommended that you visit the web site of the Particle Data Group where you can order a free copy of the Particle Data Group Particle Physics Booklet. This booklet contains much more than just tables of particle properties, however. There are summaries of all elements of the Standard Model, key high energy physics data sets, particle kinematics, and much more. You can also order a free copy of the full 900 page biennial review!
2. The CTEQ Collaboration to which Owens and Reina belong is a group of thirty-four theorists and experimentalists who work on various related Standard Model topics. We maintain a web site at www.cteq.org which contains many useful references and links. I especially recommend the CTEQ Handbook of Perturbative QCD which can be downloaded from our site.
3. The text "QCD and Collider Physics" by R.K. Ellis, W.J. Stirling, and B.R. Webber (Cambridge University Press, 1996) is an excellent reference for all aspects of QCD as it pertains to collider physics.
Academic Honor Code: Students are expected to uphold the Academic Honor Policy published in The Florida State University Bulletin. A copy may be accessed here.
The FSU Academic Honor Pledge states that
"I affirm my commitment to the concept of responsible freedom. I will be honest and truthful and will strive for personal and institutional integrity at The Florida State University. I will abide by the Academic Honor Policy at all times."
ADA Statement: Students with disabilities needing academic accommodations should: a) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center SDRC; b) bring a letter to the instructor from SDRC indicating you need academic accommodations. Please do this in the first week of class.