Frontiers in Particle Physics (894F3)

15 credits, Level 7 (Masters)

Spring teaching

Students will build on their pre-knowledge of particle physics to get an in-depth overview of fundamental concepts in modern particle physics, including through critical examination of key experimental results and their relation to theoretical expectations. Covered topics will include:

• Relativistic Kinematics
• Particle Acceleration and Radiation Detection Techniques
• Physics at e+e- Colliders * Electron-proton Scattering, Deep-Inelastic Scattering and the Structure of the Proton
• Elements of QCD and Jet Physics
• Top Physics * W and Z bosons
• Flavour Physics and CP Violation * Electroweak Symmetry Breaking and Higgs Physics
• Beyond the Standard Model
• Neutrino Physics * Non-accelerator Particle Physics
• Recent Developments in Experimental Particle Physics and Future Outlook

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 33 hours of contact time and about 117 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2023/24. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to COVID-19, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let our applicants know of material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.