University of Alberta 1 Introductory Particle Physics: PHYS485 Section B01 Winter, 2016 Instructor: Aksel Hallin Office: CCIS 2-087 Phone: 492-3516 E-mail: aksel.hallin@ualberta.ca Web Page: https://eclass.srv.ualberta.ca Use your CCID username and password. The site contains course announcements, assignment and solutions, past exam papers, lecture notes, etc. Office Hours: Largely replaced by supervisions (see below). For everything else I operate on an open door policy or email/phone for appointment. For general questions, please post items on the Forum in eclass; you are also encouraged to participate and answer questions on the Forum. TA: Thomas McElroy, Email: tmcelroy@ualberta.ca, Office L2-061 Lecture Room & Time: CCIS L1-029 TR 11:00-12:20 Course Description: Particles and forces; relativistic kinematics; symmetries and conservation laws; bound states, heavy flavours, and the quark model; Dirac equation and the electrodynamics of leptons; electrodynamics of quarks and the parton model; quantum chromodynamics and the strong interactions; weak interactions and electroweak unification. Course Prerequisites PHYS 372; MATH 225 or 227, MATH 337 or equivalent. Recommended: PHYS 458 and PHYS 472. It is important to prepare yourself for this course through a review of the prerequisite material. Students who do not have the required prerequisites at the time of taking this course should not expect supplementary professorial tutoring from the instructor.
Course Objectives and Expected Learning Outcomes: Students will know the various kinds of elementary particle and the way in which each interacts. They will be able to quantify reaction rates using the Feynman formalism, and be able to draw and calculate Feynman diagrams for Quantum Electrodynamics and Quantum Chromodynamics and for weak interactions. They will be able to apply fundamental symmetry principles, conservation laws, relativistic kinematics and perturbation theory to such calculations and will be familiar with the basic principles of particle physics. They will learn some basic principles of particle detection and experimental particle physics, be able to read papers in particle physics, and be familiar with the Particle Data Group s Review. Lecture Schedule & Assigned Readings: Week Dates Topic Readings 1 Jan 5, 7 Intro,Dirac Delta Function Appendix A 2 Jan 12,14 Relativistic Kinematics Chapter 3 3 Jan 19,21 Historical Introduction Chapter 1 4 Jan 26,28 Particle Dynamics Chapter 2 5 Feb 2,4 Symmetries Chapter 4 6 Feb 9,11 Feynman Calculus,Midterm Chapter 6 7 Feb 23,25 Feynman Calculus continued 8 Mar 2,6 Quantum Electrodynamics Chapter 7 9 Mar 9,13 QED and QCD of Quarks Chapter 8 10 Mar 16,18 Weak Interactions Chapter 9 11 Mar 23,25 Gauge Theories Chapter 10 12 Mar 30, Apr 1 Neutrino Oscillations Chapter 11 13 Apr 6, 8 What s Next Chapter 12 2 Required Textbook: Introduction to Particle Physics, Griffiths (Second, Revised Edition) Past Evaluative Material: available on course website. Assignments and Supervisions: Rather than the standard means of collecting and grading assignments we will be using supervisions, which have been successful in the past. You will be divided into small groups of about 4 students who will meet once a week for an hour with either the TA or the instructor. Questions from the assignment sheets will be assigned in these supervisions and students will then bring their work to the next supervision and will be required to explain their solution or ask for guidance if they were unable to complete a questions. No grades will be given for assignments: the primary aim of the assignment questions is to help you master the material. Instead some (but not all) exam questions will be closely based on questions appearing in the assignments. These supervisions are also intended to provide you with a chance to ask about lecture material which you did not understand.
The times for supervisions will be arranged informally at the start of the term to suit everyone s schedules. Attendance is a requirement. One supervision may be missed for free, after this the overall grade will be reduced at a rate of 1% per missed supervision, to a maximum reduction of 5%, unless a valid reason is provided (see missed midterms for examples of valid reasons) within 48 hours after the time of the missed supervision. Rescheduling is permitted with reasonable prior notice and subject to available slots in another session - it is most successful if two students can agree to swap times. 3 Paper Review There will a paper review due one week before the last lecture of the term. This will involve reading a paper related to the field and then writing a report, of no more than 10 single-sided pages (excluding figures) with a minimum 11pt font size for the main text. This report should contain the following: Physics background relevant to the result e.g. a paper on a Dark Matter search should contain background on what Dark Matter is and the evidence for its existence. A summarized discussion of the analysis presented in the paper. This should concentrate on the important features of the analysis e.g. the signal looked for, major backgrounds, techniques used andshould not be just a repeat of the paper itself. You do not need to include every detail here - refer to the paper for that - concentrate on the important points. Summary of the results of the paper and their implications in relation to the theory background you have already discussed. Figures from the paper, and other sources, should be included and referenced appropriately. The review should be written at a level such that one of your peers in the course can understand it. Collaborating to research and discuss material is strongly encouraged but each student must write their own material by themselves. References to other work used should be included as per standard academic rules and the list of references is included in the page limit. Paper reviews should be uploaded in electronic PDF form (no other format is acceptable) to the course website by the due date. Late assignments will be assessed a 10% penalty per day (or fraction thereof) late. This includes weekends so that reviews more than 9 days late will not be graded and get an automatic zero. All choices of papers must be confirmed with me beforehand and graduate students taking the course will not be allowed to choose a paper in their area of work e.g. students at SNOlab must choose a non-neutrino paper, ATLAS students must chose a non-hadron collider paper etc. Some suggestions of papers will be provided but you are by no means limited to these!
Exams There will be an in-class exam in the middle of the term which will be on all the course work covered up to that point. In addition there will be a scheduled final exam of 3 hours which will cover all the course material (roughly 60% of the exam will be on the material covered since the mid-term). You should bring an electronic calculator and writing implements to the exam. You may also bring ONE letter-sized formula sheet. For the mid-term exam you may write notes on one side of the paper and for the final exam you may write on both sides. Any violation of the exam rules will result in your case being forwarded to the associate dean with a minimum recommendation of a grade of zero on the exam affected. It is your responsibility to know and follow the rules, ignorance of the rules is not an acceptable excuse and if you do not understand them then ask before the exam. 4 Your student photo I.D. is required at exams to verify your identity. Students will not be allowed to begin an examination after it has been in progress for 30 minutes. Students must remain in the exam room for at least 30 minutes from the time the exam commenced. Rules for Calculators and Other Devices in Exams Any non-graphical calculator is allowed i.e. one or two line display only. Devices with any communication or reception capabilities (ie.wireless, bluetooth, infrared or telephone) are explicitly forbidden, even if you turn off the remote connectivity, and must be left at the front or sides of the room and not at your seat. Examples of forbidden devices include, but are not limited to, cellphones, ipods, PDAs, pagers, and laptops. Bringing an illegal device into an exam will result in an automatic grade of zero on the exam affected. If in doubt ask before using a device in an exam because ignorance of these rules will not be an acceptable excuse. Grade Evaluation: The course will be graded on a curve and the final grade will be assigned using the following scheme: Mid-term Exam 25% (February 11, 2015 in class) Final Exam 55% (Tentative Date: April 16, 2015 @ 9 am. WARNING:: You must verify this date on Bear Tracks when the Final Exam Schedule is posted) Term Project 20% (Due April 1, 2015) Grades are unofficial until approved by the Department and/or Faculty offering the course. Format of Exams: Exams will typically consist of problems similar to those in the assignments, text book, or supervisions. Missed Term Exams and Assignments:
A student who cannot write the midterm due to incapacitating illness, severe domestic affliction or other compelling reasons can apply for deferral of the weight of the midterm to the final exam. Students who have similar compelling reasons so that they cannot complete the paper on time can also apply for an extension. Deferrals or extensions need to be requested by email, before the examination or the due date with a clear statement of the reason the deferral is warranted. The subject line of the message must contain the student s name and one of the phrase Request for Deferral or Request for Extension. When the instructor reads the request he will verify receipt by email; it is the student s responsibility to ensure that the request has been delivered to the instructor on time. In exceptional cases, where the student can make the case that it was impossible to request the deferral on time, late requests will be considered. Deferral of term work is a privilege and not a right; there is no guarantee that a deferral will be granted. Misrepresentation of Facts to gain a deferral is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behaviour. 5 Deferred Final Examination: A student who cannot write the final examination due to incapacitating illness, severe domestic affliction or other compelling reasons can apply for a deferred final examination. Such an application must be made to the student s Faculty office within 48 hours of the missed examination and must be supported by a Statutory Declaration or other appropriate documentation (Calendar section 23.5.6). Deferred examinations are a privilege and not a right; there is no guarantee that a deferred examination will be granted. Misrepresentation of Facts to gain a deferred examination is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behaviour. Any deferred final exams will be held on Monday, May 25, 2015 9:00 - noon CCIS L1-047 (this is the common time slot that the physics department has set for deferred finals). Reexamination: A student who writes the final examination and fails the course may apply for a reexamination. Reexaminations are rarely granted in the Faculty of Science. These exams are governed by University (Calendar section 23.5.5) and Faculty of Science Regulations (Calendar section 192.5.9). Misrepresentation of Facts to gain a reexamination is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behaviour. Student Responsibilities: ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: "The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at http://www.governance.ualberta.ca/en/codesofconductandresidencecommunitystand ards/codeofstudentbehaviour.aspx) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or
participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University." All forms of dishonesty are unacceptable at the University. Any offence will be reported to the Senior Associate Dean of Science who will determine the disciplinary action to be taken. Cheating, plagiarism and misrepresentation of facts are serious offences. Anyone who engages in these practices will receive at minimum a grade of zero for the exam or paper in question and no opportunity will be given to replace the grade or redistribute the weights. As well, in the Faculty of Science the sanction for cheating on any examination will include a disciplinary failing grade (no exceptions) and senior students should expect a period of suspension or expulsion from the University of Alberta. 6 CELL PHONES: Cell phones are to be turned off during lectures, labs and seminars. Cell phones are not to be brought to exams. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Students who require accommodation in this course due to a disability are advised to discuss their needs with Specialized Support & Disability Services (2-800 Students Union Building). ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTRE: Students who require additional help in developing strategies for better time management, study skills or examination skills should contact the Student Success Centre (2-300 Students Union Building). Policy about course outlines can be found in section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar. Disclaimer: Any typographical errors in this Course Outline are subject to change and will be announced in class. The date of the final examination is set by the Registrar and takes precedence over the final examination date reported in this syllabus. Note: Recording is permitted only with the prior written consent of the professor or if recording is part of an approved accommodation plan.