Introductory book on particle physics

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for introductory books on particle physics, specifically those that provide comprehensive proofs and foundational concepts. Participants express their preferences for texts that delve into the mathematical underpinnings of particle interactions, particularly in the context of Feynman calculus.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks a particle physics book that starts from basic concepts and includes complete proofs, particularly regarding spinless particle interactions.
  • Another participant recommends D.J. Griffiths' text, noting its 2nd edition from 2008 as a suitable choice.
  • A different participant agrees with the recommendation of Griffiths but critiques it for lacking detailed proofs, stating that equations and Feynman rules are presented without sufficient explanation.
  • Another suggestion is made for Srednicki's book, supplemented by Lancaster & Blundell, with additional commentary on their availability and pricing.
  • One participant mentions the need for a solid understanding of quantum mechanics and recommends Sakurai & Napolitano as a supplementary text.
  • A participant highlights that the original request may align more with quantum field theory (QFT) texts, suggesting that typical particle physics books focus more on phenomenology rather than rigorous theoretical presentations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on the suitability of recommended texts, with some agreeing on the value of Griffiths while others find it insufficient for their needs. The discussion indicates a lack of consensus on the best approach to learning particle physics, particularly regarding the balance between rigor and phenomenology.

Contextual Notes

There are references to specific editions and ISBNs for recommended books, but no consensus on which book best meets the original request for comprehensive proofs. The discussion also touches on the distinction between particle physics and quantum field theory, indicating potential confusion in categorizing the desired material.

Silviu
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Hello! Can someone please recommend me a particle physics book that starts from the very basic concepts, but gives complete proofs for everything (for example, I want to start with the "spinless" particles interactions as an introduction to Feynman calculus, but I don't want them to just write down the differential cross section formula, without all the math behind). Thank you!
 
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D.J. Griffiths' text is the one I would recommend, 2nd edition of 2008 to be a little more up to date.
 
dextercioby said:
D.J. Griffiths' text is the one I would recommend, 2nd edition of 2008 to be a little more up to date.
Thank you! I used that book. It is good indeed, but he doesn't proves anything. All the equations and Feynman rules are just given (maybe a little bit explained at the end). But this is not what I want.
 
I'd recommend Srednicki supplemented with Lancaster & Blundell.

The PDF draft of Srednicki's book is here: http://web.physics.ucsb.edu/~mark/qft.html

Lancaster & Blundell has been selling out quickly every time they restock at Amazon lately. It's being sold used a lot, so there are several Amazon sales pages for it. I'd recommend searching for it with Amazon's search periodically to find a good price or wait for new copies to be back in stock. Searching by ISBN on addall.com sometimes also yields good results, and sometimes links directly to difficult-to-find used sales pages on Amazon. The ISBN I used to search it on Amazon is 9780199699339.

Oh, and if you need to brush up on your quantum mechanics, I can recommend the paperback international edition of Sakurai & Napolitano. I bought one as an extra copy recently, and the printing, paper, and binding are quite good for an international edition, or about average compared to most Western paperback textbooks I've used.
 
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Silviu said:
Thank you! I used that book. It is good indeed, but he doesn't proves anything. All the equations and Feynman rules are just given (maybe a little bit explained at the end). But this is not what I want.
Based on this, it appears that what you want is a book on quantum field theory. I think books labeled "particle physics" tend to be more about phenomenology than about a rigorous presentation of the theory.

We regularly have threads about QFT books, including this one which is currently on the first page of this forum:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/quantum-field-theory-books-for-undergraduates.898528/
 

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