Physics 489 is a senior undergraduate course in elementary particle physics.
It is a half-semester course, offered together with a companion course in Condensed Matter Physics.
Prerequisites: Physics 302 (Advanced Mechanics), 304-305 (Advanced E&M), 412 (Quantum Mechanics)
Text: D.H. Perkins, Introduction to High Energy Physics (4th ed.), Cambridge Press
Description:
The course gives an introduction to the Standard Model of fundamental particles and interactions.
Emphasis is placed upon understanding experiments as they test the guage theories of the fundamental interactions,
and the connection between the Standard Model and our understanding of new phenomena in astrophysics and cosmology.
Review Materials: The course assumes a working knowledge of special relativity and non-relativistic quantum mechanics.
You may benefit by reviewing my
Lecture notes on relativity: Lecture 1 Lecture 2 Lecture 3 Lecture 4 Lecture 5 Lecture 6
Once you are familiar with transforms and invariants, you may want to work some kinematics problems and compare your work with the answers.