Particle physics II

PHYS-416

Media

PHYS-416 Particle physics II

Lecture 13: Dark matter. Heavy neutrinos

09.06.2021, 17:29

Lecture 12: Higgs boson; Dark matter

27.05.2021, 12:38

Lecture 11: The Higgs mechanism

20.05.2021, 13:26

Lecture 10: Higgs boson

06.05.2021, 13:14

Lecture 9: Tests of the Standard Model

29.04.2021, 11:23

Lecture 8: Electroweak Unification and the W and Z Bosons

22.04.2021, 11:26

Lecture 7: Determination of the CKM Matrix elements

19.04.2021, 09:34

Lecture 6: The CKM Matrix and CP Violation

01.04.2021, 11:11

Lecture 5: Neutrinos and neutrino oscillations

25.03.2021, 11:14

Lecture 4: The weak interactions of leptons

18.03.2021, 11:04

Lecture 3: The weak interaction

11.03.2021, 11:22

Lecture 1.2: QCD (experimental part)

10.03.2021, 15:30

Lecture 1: QCD

02.03.2021, 17:32

2020: Lecture 12

29.05.2020, 10:33

2020: Lecture 11

22.05.2020, 13:50

2020: Lecture 5

15.05.2020, 11:31

2020: Lecture 6

15.05.2020, 10:37

2020: Lecture 7

15.05.2020, 10:37

2020: Lecture 8

15.05.2020, 10:35

2020: Lecture 9

15.05.2020, 10:31

2020: Lecture 10

15.05.2020, 10:25


This file is part of the content downloaded from Particle physics II.
Course summary

Course summary and goals

This course aims to make you familiar and comfortable with the main concepts of particle physics, providing a clear connection between the theory and relevant experimental results, including the most recent ones from modern particle physics experiments. 

The spring semester is devoted to quantum chromodynamics, weak interactions, the Higgs mechanism, and physics beyond the standard model. We will look in more detail into the following topics:

  • Quantum chromodynamics (QCD)
  • Weak interaction
  • Neutrinos and neutrino oscillations
  • CP violation and weak interaction of hadrons
  • Electroweak unification
  • Precision tests of the standard model
  • Higgs boson: theory and discovery
  • Dark matter and BSM theories


At the end of the course, you should be able to operate with the main concepts, describe processes in particle physics with the help of Feynman diagrams and solve related exercises.

Organisation and timing

Each week, there will be the following materials and activities:

  • live lecture with Q&A and dedicated discussion related to this material
  • live exercise class with several exercises to solve and go through with the help of a TA 

Course teachers


Course time and location

Assessment 

At the oral exam, you will need to solve a randomly picked exercise (25') and then discuss the solution and related questions with the lecturer (25').

Reading list

The course closely follows the book by Mark Thomson, "Modern Particle Physics" (2013), which is available at EPFL library. 

For the summaries, most recent reviews and technical information, please use the Particle Data Group (PDG) website https://pdg.lbl.gov/.

Other resources

The videos of the lectures from one of the previous academic years are available on the SWITCHtube channel: Particle Physics II.


February 20 and 27: QCD

February 20 and 27: QCD (experimental part)

March 6: The weak interaction

March 13: The weak interactions of leptons

March 20: Neutrinos and neutrino oscillations

March 27: The CKM Matrix and CP Violation

April 3: Determination of the CKM Matrix elements

April 10: Electroweak Unification and the W and Z Bosons

April 17: Tests of the Standard Model

April 24: Easter Holidays

May 1: The Higgs boson

May 8: The Higgs mechanism

May 15: Higgs boson decays

May 22: Dark matter and BSM

May 29: Holiday