Particle physics Definition and 509 Threads

Hi guys, I'd like to know universities, other than harvards and princetons, that have very strong groups in theoretical particle physics and need students. Mostly strong groups in theoretical particle physics are in the top 10 universiies, like MIT and so on but it is extremely hard to get into...

HELP! OZI rule Can anyone give me an explanation of the OZI rule in particle physics which is a bit better than "if you can split a feynman diagram in two by cutting gluon lines then it is suppressed"

Homework Statement In calculating the quantum mechanical amplitude for the Coulomb potential (scattering of say \alpha particle off a massive particle of charge Ze), I came across a Fourier transform which I could not calculate. If U(r)=\frac{2Ze^2}{4\pi\epsilon_0 r} then...

I'm just a year 12 student with an interest in mathematics and physics, but I have a question (or rather a few) for particle physicists/mathematicians out there. I have read a little about abstract algebra - to about the extent of knowing the definition of a group, its relationship to...

Just when you think you've read enough bad physics reporting in the mass media, along comes Reuters and lowers the bar even further down. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62T1EQ20100330 I'm really puzzled by how they can let something like this through, considering that one can easily...

Homework Statement Part A) Establish which of the following combinations of particles can exist in a state of I=1 : a) \pi^0\pi^0 b) \pi^+\pi^- c) \pi^+\pi^+ d) \Sigma^0\pi^0 e) \Lambda^0\pi^0 Part B) of the problem is: In what states of isospin may exist the following systems? f)...

Hey, I hope you are all dong well and that i am in the right place. I am not at all that good at physics. I am taking a physics class in school because i thought it was interesting. And I find it more interesting now. My problem: My new assignment requires that I describe how invisible...

I am looking forward to study Particle physics on my own. Can someone suggest me a book which I can read and understand by myself?

particle physics and quantum physics... can u tell me some difference between particle physics and quantum physics

Hello everyone- I was wondering if anyone could recommend introductory books on particle physics? I'm looking for something an undergrad could read as if they were taking a beginning course. I've searched Amazon and found tons of college textbooks only I'm not sure which ones are...

Hi,all, what is decay length in particle physics? I could not find on web, so frustrating. Thanks a lot for any helps!

Hi, I am half way of a Ph.D. in theoretical particle physics in an European university. I have started to worry about my future after learning how really difficult it is to get a position, how much do postdocs earn and how difficult it is for some to find a good job outside academy. The truth...

The lectures from Susskind's lectures on particle physics which he hold this fall started to be available on iTunesU on Stanford;s home and youtube. Currently there are 2 on youtube and 3 on itunesU.

Hi, In particle physics, what does 'coupling' mean? I can't find a definition anywhere and books just assume you know what it is. For example, "the Higgs couples to light particles". Also, what does it mean to say that something strongly or weakly couples to something else? Any help...

I'm currently studying physics at A-level, and for particle physics I'm fine about the theory of the equations, I remember what equations to use etc, but I can't seem to get the right answers from my calculator. For example, when working out the specific charge of a carbon ion with Z = 6, A =...

Halo! =D I want to get into particle physics. It all started out great until I start my first semester of uni (about to finish first sem. xD). I realized that most students in the physics program is a) super serious b) super smart and c) know tons beyond the first year level. Now my...

I' m interested in experimental particle physics (graduate level). All books I know are focused on theory, do you know any book which focus on experiment? tnx

I'm struggling a bit with my module on particle physics. This is only part of the problem set, but I need it for the rest (which is asking whether or not some particular decays are possible). My problem is: How can you tell which is the most likely interaction for certain processes? For...

Homework Statement Dust particles are approximately 11.0 micrometers in diameter. They are pulverized rock, with density 2500 kg/m^3. If you treat dust as an ideal gas, what is the rms speed of a dust particle at 23.0 degrees C? Homework Equations I have no idea. The only one I would...

Show that the phase space factor \rho \propto p^2 dp/dE for the decay \pi\rightarrow \mu + \upsilon is \rho \propto \frac{({m_\pi}^2 - {m_\mu}^2)^2}{{m_\pi}^3}E_\mu where E is the total energy.I can show that p^2 = ({m_\pi}^2 - {m_\mu}^2)^2/4{m_\pi}^2 but then I get stuck, I don't know how...

Dear Marcus, You know everybody in the particle and QG fields and their reputations. Could you name several names of senior, experienced theoretical particle physicists who are highly respected, please? Responses of other PF members are also welcome. Regards, Vladimir.

Homework Statement At HERA 30 GeV electrons collided head on with 820 GeV protons. Calculate the invariant mass of ep collisions. (masses: e=0.0005GeV, p=0.938GeV) Homework Equations M^2 = (E1 + E2)^2 - (p1 + p2)^2 ? The Attempt at a Solution I know the numerical answer to...

Excellent talk at clear basic level. To save time, one can start at minute 7:00. That's where he discusses the standard model and then the Higgs, and then moves on to what else might be found. http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/2384517 I gather the talk was given this morning, 19 October, at a...

Hi, I've managed to get extremely confused; I feel like I'm getting told different things! I hope someone can just clarify this for me. If you have a reaction, say for example: p pion+ --> p p (where p is a proton) is it true that the rest mass afterwards must be less than the rest mass...

Here is the problem. I've been messing around with it for a while but I'm not sure if what I'm trying to do is the right way to approach this. The form factor F(q) = \int\rho(\vec{r})e^{i\vec{q}.\vec{r}/\hbar}d^{3}\vec{r} is the 3D Fourier Transform of the normalised charge distribution...

Hi In Halzen's "Quarks & Leptons" all discussed particle interactions conserve particle number in some sense (Actually particle number is not conserved but if you count the particles minus the antiparticles before the reaction you get the same "particles minus the antiparticles" number after...

What jobs can one get after doing a PhD in nuclear physics or particle physics except for lecturership? Where are they used?

made in the Soviet Union?

I'm a final year BSc Maths & Physics student and need to start applying for MSc's this autumn. My problem is, I don't know whether to study for a particle physics MSc or a generalist physics/applied maths MSc. I am currently doing a research project in CMT and I'm liking it a lot, but I have no...

I'm trying to figure out what the standard model of particle physics is, what is included, who decides what's included, and how one would know when a new concept/theory is included or possibly rejected. It would be great to have a list of recent additions or experimental confirmations. Must...

What happens to the particulate nature of light as a light expands outward infinitely from a single point light source. Pretty much all light in the universe does that, except only where lensing takes place to create a non-divergent beam of light ... although I think such a thing is a near...

Particle Physics in Uni. of Manchester--Review and comment. Hi everyone, I am applying a MSc in Particle Physics at Uni of Manchester. I've done some research on the university ranking by subject area, student's reviews...etc. which are posted on the net. But I am hoping to get more info...

I would like to go to a school (In America) that is decent and has courses which would allow me to major in something such as quantum mechanics, high energy particle physics, or string theory (basically any kind of abstract, theoretical physics/science). I am a low A high B student, so i do...

Hi all. Would you believe that it is necessary for me to take a course in "Nuclear and Particle Physics" in order to be able to do graduate work in condensed matter physics/quantum optics? Thank you in advance. Niles.

Hello all! So, I'll be taking first-semester quantum mechanics and partial differential equations this fall, and would like to get a little bit of a head start by reading/working some problems on my own this summer. After some initial browsing, I've heard mixed-to-poor reviews concerning...

Hey, I m obsessed with High Energy Physics and would like to do post-grad in the field. I ve applied to Oxford, Imperial, Edinburgh and Sheffield...and (to my surprise) have been accepted to all four...I m trying to get all the opinion/insights/thoughts possible so if anyone is willing to dish...

E(threshold enrgy) = M* − M(squared) −m(squared) divided by 2M Determine the threshold energy for producing a top quark and an anti-top quark when beams of electrons and positrons of equal energy are made to collide head on. What do i sub in where and what do i with M*. Thanks

What do you guys think would be more fun particle physics or molecular biology? I love science and math and i love the idea of working on the most fundamental things of the universe, but i could do more practical things in molecular biology, so I am asking you guys what do you think?

Seeing the discussion in the thread about Quantum Mechanics Careers in which ZapperZ and Locrain discussing the role of a Particle Physics Theorist, the current state of affairs in particle physics and the transport of particle theorists to astrophysics theory made me think of a recent email I...

How "hot" of an area of research is particle physics? Hello friends. I am currently trying to decide which branch of physics I want to go into. I have been interested in working as a theorist in particle physics, but I am afraid that the job market for this is not good. Also, I am afraid that...

I have just embarked upon a PhD in Lattice QCD. I'm wondering, what is research like in other areas of theoretical particle physics? Lattice is highly computational and fairly light on theory so it seems a lot of people in the field spend quite a bit of time making/updating and running large...

Hello! I was wondering if someone could help me with a problem of units! I'm currently deriving probability equations for neutrino oscillations and I'm stuck with units! I have: [(mass)^2 * time]/[4*energy] and I want to write it as [1.27 * (mass)^2 * distance]/[Energy] with distance in...

Hey all, I am an undergraduate taking a particle physics class and we just learned that the EM force was caused by charges "spitting" virtual photons back a forth. In like second grade we learned that the EM force was dependent on the two charges involved (keeping this simple) and the distance...

What are some of the most important research skills to develop as an undergraduate, particularly concerning particle physics?

What does "W cut" mean in regards to particle physics? I am helping a professor put together some graphs with data from particle physics experiments. I saw something called "W cut" in the data files and was wondering what exactly this means. For example, I came across the three values for W...

Greetings Next semester I'll have solid state physics, statistical physics and and introductionary course in elementary particles. So I was wondering maby those of you who had those subjects could recommend me some books. I really liked books by Griffiths so far. Especially the one on...

Homework Statement Q) 1]Neutral pion decays into 2 photons which then decay into electron-positron pairs. What would the feynman diagram look like? 2] Why is this decay of the neutral pion difficult to identify in bumble chambers? Homework Equations feynman diagram...

Hello, I join these forums because I am interested in having somebody to chat about QM with. Somebody with the same lvl of interest would be great! I have a basic interest in the ideas of Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, and Particle Physics. Basically, if there is something on the Discovery...

Why does Nima A-H say “unlikely to tell us anything about particle physics”? Nima Arkani-Hamed is a brilliant young phenomenologist (b.1972) who left a faculty position at Harvard this year to join the Princeton Institute for Advanced Studies. My impression is that the work he is best known for...

Hi all.. I am going to pursue my study for MSc in Physics next year most probably in UK. As a completion of the course, we need to do an in-depth research project. With Particle physics in mind, I am quite clueless in deciding the project that I will do for my MSc. I am hoping you guys can help...