Would like some particle physics textbook-reading advice

[WWCY]

Hi all,

I am in a bit of a funny situation where I need to pick up at least a cursory knowledge of QFT and particle physics in the space of two weeks. I borrowed "QFT and the Standard Model" by Schwartz but I have no idea how I should approach it. Ideally I'd pour through every page, but I definitely do not have the time to do so. Could someone suggest the topics (and their sequence) I should be focusing on? This is a link to the contents page: https://schwartzqft.fas.harvard.edu/

This is the current background I have: I know a little bit about classical field theory (Lagrangian/Lagrangian densities and whatnot) and special relativity from a course in Classical Electrodynamics. I also know a tiny bit of QFT/QED in the form of the quantisation of the EM field, however this was only a small part in a far-more-general course.

Also, I have no knowledge of Group Theory, so some advice regarding what I should read from this book (Intro to tensors and group theory for physicists): https://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319147932 would be nice as well!

Thanks in advance!

PS Basically I will be attending some lectures on particle physics in the summer holidays and after looking through the slides, I realized that I had absolutely no idea about what was going on. It's slightly worrying as I do wish to learn something from these lectures.

I've attached the slides to the introductory lecture: https://indico.cern.ch/event/709526/attachments/1670640/2686573/intro_pp_18.pdf

 

[George Jones]

Basically I will be attending some lectures on particle physics in the summer holidays and after looking through the slides, I realized that I had absolutely no idea about what was going on. It's slightly worrying as I do wish to learn something from these lectures.

I've attached the slides to the introductory lecture: https://indico.cern.ch/event/709526/attachments/1670640/2686573/intro_pp_18.pdf

I think that Schwartz is overkill for this.

The Prerequisites link on

https://indico.cern.ch/event/709526/

states "No pre-requisites; this is an introductory overview."

Click on the Recording link at the URL I give above, and watch the whole lecture to see for yourself. No need to know about, e.g., SU(3) beforehand.

If you do want to look at some books, I recommend "Modern Particle Physics" by Thomson and/or "Introduction to Elementary Particles" by Griffiths.

 

[Wrichik Basu]

QFT is not something that can be grasped in two weeks. Since your course prerequisites don't mention anything significant, I will advise you not to study QFT in a hurry. You'll not be able to sense the beauty in the subject if you storm through it.

Rather, go through a few talks which are on particle physics so that you know at least something. Here are a few:

A few more lectures are available in this playist:

 

[WWCY]

Hi all, cheers for the advice, really appreciate it!