Particle Physics: an Introduction

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/particle-physics

Introduction

**Course Review: Particle Physics: An Introduction on Coursera** If you’ve ever gazed at the night sky and pondered the mysteries of the universe, or if you've found yourself fascinated by the fundamental building blocks of matter, then the Coursera course "Particle Physics: An Introduction" could be the perfect educational journey for you. Offered by the University of Geneva, this online course dives deep into the captivating world of subatomic physics, intertwined with nuclear physics and the forces that govern our universe. ### Overview of the Course "Particle Physics: An Introduction" is designed for anyone interested in understanding the intricate concepts of particle physics. The course aims to tackle several important questions, such as: - What foundational concepts underpin particle physics and how are they applied? - What properties of atomic nuclei are significant, and how can they be utilized? - What techniques are used for accelerating and detecting particles, and how do we measure their properties? - What insights can we glean from high-energy particle reactions and decays? - How do electromagnetic interactions function fundamental to our understanding of particle behavior? The course is structured into several modules, each focusing on a different aspect of particle physics. This progressive build-up is key in ensuring that learners can digest complex topics thoroughly. ### Detailed Syllabus Breakdown 1. **Matter and Forces, Measuring and Counting**: This introductory module provides a foundational understanding of matter, forces, and the nature of space-time. The concept of cross-sections—essential to particle physics—is explained, and learners can see practical measurement applications in a laboratory setting. 2. **Nuclear Physics**: This self-contained module delves into nuclear physics principles and their applications. It’s recommended to spend extra time mastering this substantial module, culminating in virtual visits to energy facilities that highlight real-world applications of nuclear physics. 3. **Accelerators and Detectors**: Here, the course covers the principles of particle acceleration and detection. Students will learn about electromagnetic acceleration and how these methods are used at CERN, providing a window into cutting-edge research and technology in particle physics. 4. **Electromagnetic Interactions**: This module intensifies the intellectual challenge by diving into the fundamental force of electromagnetism. Introductions to concepts like spin and Feynman diagrams prepare participants for deeper discussions and understanding of particle interactions. 5. **Hadrons and Strong Interaction**: Exploring the structure of hadrons and the strong nuclear force, this module provides insights into key concepts such as elasticity and asymptotic freedom, making complex theoretical ideas accessible. 6. **Electro-Weak Interactions**: A longer module that covers weak interactions and the crucial Higgs mechanism, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the significant role the Higgs boson plays in particle physics. 7. **Discovering New Phenomena**: This exciting module introduces students to the quest for new physics beyond the Standard Model, illustrating how this research is carried out and the possible implications it holds for our understanding of the universe. 8. **Dark Matter and Dark Energy**: The final module takes a fascinating leap into the realms of dark matter and dark energy, two of the most mysterious aspects of our universe. ### Course Learning Experience The course is structured in a way that caters to both beginners and those with some prior knowledge of physics. It combines theoretical concepts with practical examples, and the inclusion of virtual lab visits further enriches the learning experience. Engaging video lectures, quizzes, and interactive assignments foster a dynamic learning environment. ### Final Recommendations I wholeheartedly recommend "Particle Physics: An Introduction" to anyone with a curiosity about the universe’s fundamental components and forces. Whether you're a student of physics or merely a curious learner, this course offers an invaluable opportunity to explore the essential questions of particle physics. While some modules are dense and may require dedicated time to understand, the rewarding insights you gain are well worth the investment. Furthermore, the expertise offered by the University of Geneva ensures that learners are guided by industry-leading researchers and educators. In summary, this course is not just an academic endeavor—it’s a thrilling expedition into the heart of the universe, filled with theories waiting to be uncovered and mysteries longing to be explored. Sign up today and ignite your passion for particle physics!

Syllabus

Matter and forces, measuring and counting

During this first module, we will give an overview of the objects studied in particle physics, namely matter, forces and space-time. We will discuss how one characterizes the strength of an interaction between particles using the concept of cross section, which is central to our subject. At the end of this module, we will visit the laboratory of the nuclear physics course at University of Geneva to see an example of how one measures the strength of a reaction in practice.

During this second module, we deal with nuclear physics and its applications. This is a rather self-contained module. If your main interest is nuclear physics, you will be well served. You will notice that this is a rather substantial module, we recommend that you take two weeks to digest it. At the end of this module, we will visit the Tokamak of the Swiss Institute of Technology in Lausanne and the Beznau nuclear power plant, the oldest one still in operation. This will alllow you to better understand the applications of nuclear physics for our energy supply.

In this module, we treat the basic facts about particle acceleration and detection. This is a rather self-contained module. If your main interest is particle acceleration and detection, you will be well served. You will notice that this is rather substantial module, we recommend that you take two weeks to digest it. We introduce electromagnetic acceleration and focalisation of particle beams and show how they are used in the accelerator complex of CERN. We describe how charged particles and photons interact with matter and how these interactions are used to detect particles and measure their properties. And we show how modern particle detectors use the synergies between different detection methods to get exhaustive information about the final state of particle collisions.

We now start a series of three modules discussing the three fundamental forces described by the Standard Model of particle physics. In this forth module, we go into more details about the properties of electromagnetic interactions. We discuss spin and how it intervenes in measurements. And we give a few examples of basic electromagnetic processes to point out common features. You will notice that the intellectual challenge and also the level of mathematical description rises somewhat as we go along. This is why we first remind you how to describe the intensity of a reaction using the cross section and the decay rate and how to construct a Feynman diagram.

In this module we discuss the structure of hadrons and the properties of strong interactions. We start out by explaining how one uses the scattering of electrons off nucleons to learn about the internal structure of these baryons. Step by step we lead you from elastic scattering, through the excitation of resonances, all the way to deep inelastic processes. You thus learn about the concept of form factors and structure functions and what they tell us about hadron structure. We then discuss the physics behind this and learn about color and the strange features of strong interactions, like asymptotic freedom and confinement.

In this 6th module, we discuss weak interactions and the Higgs mechanism. You will notice that this module is again larger that average. This is due to the rich phenomenology of electro-weak interactions. We recommend that you take 2 weeks to digest the contents. Before entering into our subject, in this first video we go into more depth on the subject of antiparticles. We will then discuss the discrete transformations of charge, space and time reversal. Weak interactions are introduced, explaining the weak charge (called weak isospin) and examples of decays and interactions. Properties of the W and Z bosons are detailed. The extremely tiny cross sections of neutrino interactions with matter are discussed. In the last part of the module, we explain how the Higgs mechanism keeps particles from moving at the speed of light, and the properties of the associated Higgs boson.

In this 7th module Anna discusses searches for new phenomena, beyond the known ones described by the standard model and covered in previous modules. We will remind you why we believe that the standard model is incomplete and new physics must be added. We will explain how hadron collider data are rendered usable for searches. And we will discuss examples, split into the two categories, based on how new phenomena might manifest themselves.