Particle physics II

Abstract

Quantum chromodynamics the quantum gauge theory of strong interactions is presented: SU(3) being the (colour) symmetry group. The colour content of strongly interacting particles is described. Gluons, the field particles, carry colour so that they mutually interact – unlike photons. Renormalization leads to the coupling strength declining at large four momentum transfer squared q 2 and to binding of quarks in hadrons at small q 2. The cutoff in the range of the strong interaction is shown to be due to this low q 2 behaviour, despite the gluon being massless. In high energy interactions, say proton-proton collisions, the initial process is a hard (high q 2) parton+parton to parton+parton process. After which the partons undergo softer interactions leading finally to emergent hardrons. Experiments at DESY probing proton structure with electrons are described. An account of electroweak unification completes the book. The weak interaction symmetry group is SUL(2), L specifying handedness. This makes the electroweak symmetry U(1)⊗SUL(2). The weak force carriers, W± and Z0, are massive, which is at odds with the massless carriers required by quantum gauge theories. How the BEH mechanism resolves this problem is described. It involves spontaneous symmetry breaking of the vacuum with scalar fields. The outcome are massive gauge field particles to match the W± and Z0 trio, a massless photon, and a scalar field with a massive particle, the Higgs boson. The experimental programmes that discovered the vector bosons in 1983 and the Higgs in 2012 are described, including features of generic detectors. Finally puzzles revealed by our current understanding are outlined.