New Directions In The Application Of Symmetry Principles To Elementary Particle Physics

This volume gives the reader a feel for the latest applications of the symmetry approach to problems in elementary particle physics. Not only are formal, phenomenological and model-building aspects covered but there are also interesting presentations detailing the history of the subject.

An understanding of the properties and interactions of the elementary particles is an essential prerequisite of research work in high energy physics. Much progress in the subject has been achieved with the aid of symmetry principles. In this 1980 book the concept of symmetry or invariance is employed as a unifying theme. Using a careful explanation of the mathematical formalism and with many applications to particular cases, the authors introduce the reader to the symmetry schemes which dominate the world of the particle physicist. The presentation will also appeal to mathematicians and physicists in other fields who are interested in the applications of the general principles of symmetry. After a brief survey of the particles and a review of the relevant quantum mechanics, the principal symmetries are studied in turn. Some technical points are relegated to appendices and the book contains extensive references.

Recent experimental results with direct bearing on theories of cosmological dark matter/energy, as well as continuing work on neutrino masses and mixing, have invigorated both particle physics and cosmology, and should continue to do so well into the 21st century, thereby launching a beautiful new epoch for these fields. The expert contributions from this conference took stock of these developments. This volume contains papers by over 40 physicists that summarize and interpret the newest findings, and suggest future avenues to be explored. A number of new theoretical ideas are also presented, dealing with progress in understanding the dynamics and symmetries of strings and branes, renormalization in quantum field theory, possible Lorentz violation effects, and related problems. Ongoing and next generation gravitational and neutrino experiments are described, and the issues of unification are dealt with in the context of, and beyond, the standard model. Together, the contributions provide a useful blend of experimental and theoretical physics from many prominent physicists, including three Nobel Laureates. The volume also contains information of an historical nature, concerning the contributions to physics by Paul Frampton, on the occasion of his 60th year, and summarizing the career of Behram Kursunoglu (1922-2003).

This first open access volume of the handbook series contains articles on the standard model of particle physics, both from the theoretical and experimental perspective. It also covers related topics, such as heavy-ion physics, neutrino physics and searches for new physics beyond the standard model. A joint CERN-Springer initiative, the "Particle Physics Reference Library" provides revised and updated contributions based on previously published material in the well-known Landolt-Boernstein series on particle physics, accelerators and detectors (volumes 21A, B1,B2,C), which took stock of the field approximately one decade ago. Central to this new initiative is publication under full open access

While theoretical particle physics is an extraordinarily fascinating field, the incredibly fast pace at which it moves along, combined with the huge amount of background information necessary to perform cutting edge research, poses a formidable challenge for graduate students. This book represents the first in a series designed to assist students in the process of transitioning from coursework to research in particle physics. Rather than reading literally dozens of physics and mathematics texts, trying to assimilate the countless ideas, translate notations and perspectives, and see how it all fits together to get a holistic understanding, this series provides a detailed overview of the major mathematical and physical ideas in theoretical particle physics. Ultimately the ideas will be presented in a unified, consistent, holistic picture, where each topic is built firmly on what has come before, and all topics are related in a clear and intuitive way. This introductory text on quantum field theory and particle physics provides both a self-contained and complete introduction to not only the necessary physical ideas, but also a complete introduction to the necessary mathematical tools. Assuming minimal knowledge of undergraduate physics and mathematics, this book lays both the mathematical and physical groundwork with clear, intuitive explanations and plenty of examples. The book then continues with an exposition of the Standard Model of Particle Physics, the theory that currently seems to explain the universe apart from gravity. Furthermore, this book was written as a primer for the more advanced mathematical and physical ideas to come later in this series.

Discusses mirror symmetry, a symmetries, time reversal, vacuum as a physical medium, spontaneous symmetry breaking, particles, and quarks.