MPhys Physics

Frontiers of Particle Physics 2

1. To provide a thorough and in depth knowledge of modern experimental particle physics including recent results.
2. To provide an essential basis for students who will undertake research in this subject.

On completion successful students will be able to:

1. judge the significance of specific experimental observations in the broader context of fundamental particle physics questions
2. identify the key unanswered questions in quark flavour, neutrino and dark matter physics, and propose how physicists can answer these questions experimentally
3. explain the main theoretical concepts underpinning quark flavour, neutrino and dark matter physics, and apply them to calculations
4. describe the experimental techniques used in the field, in particular the particle detection mechanisms and the methods of suppressing background
5. analyse data (e.g. in the form of oscillation or CP violation measurements) to derive key results in particle physics

1. Quark flavour physics
CKM matrix
CP violation
LHCb experiment and recent results

2. Neutrino physics and other rare processes
Neutrino masses and oscillations
PMNS matrix
Majorana and Dirac neutrinos
Charged lepton flavour violation
Dark matter
 

Feedback will be available on students’ individual written solutions to examples sheets and model answers will be issued.

Martin, B. & Shaw, G. Particle Physics, (Wiley)
Perkins, D.H. Introduction to High Energy Physics (CVP)