How Do Theoretical Concepts Guide the Design of Particle Physics Experiments?

[maverick280857]

Hi,

I've spent an enormous time through coursework and self-reading on learning different things in basic particle physics theory, such as scattering cross-sections, decay rates, etc. I am looking to connect the things I have learned in theory to experiments. This may seem a little vague, but I want to know which quantities are measurable, what the motivation behind designing beams and detectors the way they are, is, based on theory. The theory books dwell too much on theory, whereas experimental treatises tend to be divorced from theory (at least the few I've encountered).

Suggestions are welcome!

I am not sure if this is the right subforum for this query, but since it is more of a pedagogical nature, I thought it would be best to put it here than the hep forum.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Vanadium 50]

Have you gone to TASI?

 

[maverick280857]

Have you gone to TASI?

If you mean the conference, I have not attended it. I am not sure what you meant though?

I am looking for books/review articles which could explain me the connections between (say) things in Halzen and Martin/Peskin and Schroeder and the kind of experiments at the LHC. For instance, if I want to study process X, what are the quantities I can measure, and what are the things I have to infer? And when I know that, how do I design the experiment? What kinds of detection schemes are relevant?

 

[Vanadium 50]

Well, it's a summer school, but this is typically where theory grad students are exposed to this sort of thing.

If you're looking for a book, while it's phenomenology is somewhat dated, you might take a look at Collider Physics by Barger and Phillips. If that's not what you are interested in, you might list its shortcomings and we can point you in a better direction.

 

[maverick280857]

Well, it's a summer school, but this is typically where theory grad students are exposed to this sort of thing.

Yeah I saw the website. I couldn't get access to the old course materials, and for the kind of stuff I want to learn/pick up, it might be a bit advanced. I have an engineering background, and now that I am reading theory books, I want to connect the theory to the experiment and get a better physical picture. Hence the question.

If you're looking for a book, while it's phenomenology is somewhat dated, you might take a look at Collider Physics by Barger and Phillips. If that's not what you are interested in, you might list its shortcomings and we can point you in a better direction.

Thanks Vanadium. Are you referring to "Linear Collider Physics in the New Millennium. Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd | ISBN: 9812389083"? I'll check it out. Chances are it won't be outdated for me, because I'm not looking for the "new" and "hot" stuff yet.

 

[Vanadium 50]

No, the title is simply "Collider Physics".