What is happening at the LHC books?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding suitable books that explain the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and its recent findings for someone without a physics background but with a strong mathematics background. Participants explore the current state of research at the LHC and suggest resources for understanding collider physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks recommendations for books that introduce the LHC and help interpret recent news, mentioning a previously read book on the Standard Model.
  • Another participant expresses skepticism about the significance of recent findings from the LHC, citing examples of reported discoveries that were later questioned.
  • In contrast, a different participant argues that important developments are still occurring at the LHC, suggesting that there will be significant news related to the Higgs boson in the future.
  • Another participant highlights ongoing research at the LHC, such as new results related to quark-gluon plasma and symmetry breaking, asserting that even non-conclusive findings are meaningful.
  • Participants suggest specific books, including Frank Close's "The Infinity Puzzle" and "The Second Creation," as potential resources for understanding the Standard Model and collider physics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the significance of recent findings from the LHC, with some believing that important developments are ongoing while others feel that there is little of note to report. No consensus is reached regarding the current state of research or the availability of suitable books.

Contextual Notes

Some statements reflect uncertainty about the implications of recent findings at the LHC, and there is a lack of agreement on what constitutes noteworthy developments. The discussion also highlights the challenge of finding appropriate literature for a non-physics audience.

Coin
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"What is happening at the LHC" books?

I am trying to find a Christmas gift for my brother, and thought it might be fun to try to get him a book that would be an introduction to what the LHC is looking for and would explain how to interpret the news coming out of the LHC in the last month / next year or three. He does not have a physics background but has a heavy graduate-level mathematics background (he is a couple months from a PH.D in another, highly math-centric subject).

I read a fantastic book about the Standard Model some years back called "The Theory of Almost Everything" by Robert Oerter that is more or less exactly what I am looking for, three years ago I would have just given him that book, I was wondering if there was something a little more up-to-date or math-oriented I should look at also/instead.

Thanks!
 
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i don't think there's anything new coming out of LHC

they say they found faster-than-light neturino then it's reported that that may not be the case

they say they spot Higgs Boson then it's reported that the result is not conclusive

so no, nothing really worthy to mention is coming out of LHC
 


It doesn't really matter if they're finding anything or not, lots of stuff is still happening at the LHC and there will be major news from it at some point (there will be either a Higgs discovery or a Higgs exclusion). I was just looking for something that's a good introduction to collider physics for someone not familiar (the best I know is, read Dorigo's blog for a couple years)...
 


Arabiannights - there's plenty coming out of the LHC that isn't reported in the news! New QGP results, symmetry breaking in the charm system etc. etc. Even the "non-news" about the higgs is still meaninful. There is plenty to mention.

Coin - can't think of any LHC books from the top of my head, but as far as new Standard Model books go, Frank Close's new book, The Infinity Puzzle has gotten pretty good reviews (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0465021441/?tag=pfamazon01-20), and The Second Creation is popular (though older) as well (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0813521777/?tag=pfamazon01-20)
 

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