EPII, advance topics within & beyond the Standard Model

Spring 2011

Instructors:

• Lecturer: Gilad Perez, email gilad.perez@weizmann.ac.il .
• TA: Oram Gedalia, , email oram.gedalia@weizmann.ac.il .

Place and Time:

• Sun. 11:15-13:00 K.B. Weissman, Seminar Rm A.
• Wed. 11:15-13:00 K.B. Weissman, Seminar Rm A.
• First Lecture: 13/3/2011.

Objectives:

EPII is an advanced course in modern elementary particle physics. The course focuses on understanding the Standard Model (SM) in manner that will allow the students to understand the reasons for why we think it is only a low energy description of nature and to give tools for looking for SM extensions.

There will be a special emphasize on connection with existing and future experiments in particle physics and also on effective field theory description of how new physics dynamics affect the expected new data.

Although QFT is not required for the course, basic knowledge regarding Feynman diagram techniques and RGE as well as basic understanding of non-abelian gauge theories is highly recommended.

Here is a preliminary syllabus for the course:

(i) The Standard Model (SM) electroweak (EW) sector, at tree level and beyond.

(ii) Understanding the precision constraint via symmetries, effective field theory (EFT) and the little hierarchy problem, “LEP paradox”.

(iii) The SM flavor sector, the flavor puzzle, symmetries, precision tests, EFT and the “flavor (new physics) paradox”.

(iv) Collider phenomenology.

Texts:

These are some of the references being used to prepare the lectures: (more references will be added as the course advances).

• T.P. Cheng and L-F. Li, Gauge theory of elementary particle physics,
• V. Barger and R. Phillips, Collider physics
• S. Novaes, Standard model: An Introduction, hep-ph/0001283
• S. Dawson, Introduction to electroweak symmetry breaking hep-ph/9901280
• S. Dawson, Tasi lectures http://quark.phy.bnl.gov/~dawson/tasi06.html
• W. Hollik, Electroweak theory hep-ph/9602380
• J. Wells, Introduction to precision EW analysis hep-ph/0512342
• Gustavo Castelo Branco, Luís Lavoura & João Paulo Silva, CP Violation.
• Yosef Nir, CP violation: A New era, hep-ph/0109090.
• Oram Gedalia and Gilad Perez, TASI 2009 Lectures - Flavor Physics, 1005.3106 [hep-ph].
• Stephen Martin, A Supersymmetry primer, hep-ph/9709356
• Jan Louis, Ilka Brunner and Stephan J. Huber, The supersymmetric standard model, hep-ph/9811341

Lecture Notes:

Here are transparencies and notes for the lectures:

Introduction and electroweak physics,

Flavor physics,

Collider phenomenology. (very informal)

Grades:

The grade will be based on the homeworks and on a final paper and presentation on some specific topic.

• Problem Sets (50%)
• Presentation (50%)

Problem Sets & Final Presentation:

Problem sets will be assigned in class and are due on the date shown. You are expected to solve them on your own and the final calculations handed in must be your own work.

· Homework Assignment 1 [ pdf ]

· Homework Assignment 2 [ pdf ]

· Homework Assignment 3 [ pdf ]

· Homework Assignment 4 [ pdf ]

· Suggested topics for final presentations [ pdf ]

Topics and Dates for Talks:

The deadline for the presentation will be set at a later stage.

Useful Links:

• Particle Data Group