Seminar on the theory of particles and fields

Contents & literature

Symmetries and the conservation laws connected to them play an important role in nearly all areas of physics. In the first talks, the concept of symmetry will first be examined conceptually and in terms of philosophy of science, also using some prominent examples. Later on, the description of symmetries through group theory, symmetries in quantum mechanics and elementary particle physics (e. g. the flavor symmetry SU(3) and gauge symmetries), symmetry breaking as well as scale symmetry will be among the topics.

Topics are primarily given out to master’s students. A limited number of topics can possibly also be worked on by bachelor’s students. Thus, we refer to the seminar on the theory of atoms, nuclei and condensed matter at this point, which is targeted exclusively towards bachelor’s students.

Literature

• I.J.R. Aitchison: An informal introduction to gauge field theories, Cambridge, Cambridge, 1982
• A. Das, T. Ferbel: Kern- und Teilchenphysik, Spektrum, Heidelberg, 1995
• A. Galindo, P. Pascual: Quantum Mechanics I, Springer, Berlin, 1990
• S. Gasiorowicz: Elementary Particle Physics, Wiley & Sons, New York, 1966
• H. Genz, R. Decker: Symmetrie und Symmetriebrechung in der Physik, Vieweg, Braunschweig, 1991
• W. Greiner, B. Müller: Quantenmechanik, Teil 2: Symmetrien, Harri Deutsch, Frankfurt, 1990
• R. Jackiw: Introducing scale symmetry, Physics Today 25, January 1972
• H.F. Jones: Groups, Representations and Physics, Taylor & Francis Group, 1998
• O. Nachmann: Elementarteilchenphysik - Phänomene und Konzepte, Vieweg, Braunschweig, 1986
• C. Quigg: Gauge Theories of the Strong, Weak, and Electromagnetic Interactions, Princeton UP, Princeton, 2013
  
• G. Rosen: Conformal invariance of maxwell’s equations, American Journal of Physics 40, 1972
• J. Rosen: Symmetry Rules, Springer, Berlin, 2008
• R.U. Sexl, H.K. Urbantke: Relativität, Gruppen, Teilchen, Springer, Wien, 1988

Supplementary and advanced literature

• M. Böhm, A. Denner, H. Joos: Gauge Theories of the Strong and Electroweak Interaction, Teubner, Stuttgart, 2001
• M. Schottenloher: Geometrie und Symmetrie in der Physik, Vieweg, Braunschweig, 1995
• W. Ludwig, C. Falter: Symmetries in Physics, Springer, Berlin, 1988
• M. Wagner: Gruppentheoretische Methoden in der Physik, Vieweg, Stuttgart, 1998

The literature is made available to the speakers via the LearnWeb. Further advice concerning complementary literature is given as part of the talk guidance.