The recent discovery of the Higgs particle completes the so-called Standard Model of the fundamental particles and forces of Nature. But there are still questions it doesn't answer. In this course you will learn about particles such as quarks and gluons which make up the proton, and the forces which both hold them together, and allow them to decay. Why is the Higgs particle needed? And what about dark matter?

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face
   

COURSE OUTLINE

• Discovering atoms and nuclei; the Strong Interaction which holds nuclei together, and the Weak Interaction which allows nuclear decay processes.

• The Fundamental Theories of Physics: the basic concepts of Special Relativity; Quantum Theory; and Quantum Field Theory.

• Particle accelerators and detectors: new discoveries following World War II; the bewildering Particle Zoo.

• Symmetries in the Particle Zoo and the quark model of strong interactions: are quarks real?

• The unification of the Electromagnetic and Weak Interactions: discovering the particles responsible.

• Quantum Field Theory, invariance principles, and the need for the Higgs. The search for the Higgs. Dark matter; dark energy; and other mysteries.

   

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Describe the roles played by the Strong and Weak Interactions in Nuclear Physics.
2. Discuss key ideas which underpin Physics theories.
3. Outline the central concepts of a particle accelerator.
4. Discuss the quark model of protons and neutrons.
5. Discuss the role of gauge particles in fundamental interactions.
6. Describe the hunt for the Higgs particle.