GUTs, TOEs and stringy things: GUTs, TOEs and stringy things: biology or high-energy physics? biology or high-energy physics? Subtitle: Ways to teach the fundamental question, “What are we made of and what holds us together?” Why should we teach it and if so, when? Gordon P. Ramsey Loyola University Chicago gpr@hep.anl.gov Subtitle: Ways to teach the fundamental question, “What are we made of and what holds us together?” Why should we teach it and if so, when? Gordon P. Ramsey Loyola University Chicago gpr@hep.anl.gov Why study particle physics? • Addresses the fundamental philosophical questions: What are we made of and what holds us together? • Particle physics is fundamental to understanding the basic structure of matter. • It encompasses the studies all of the known forces in nature using conservation laws. • It gives insight on how we investigate the smallest known scales in physics. Why study particle physics? • With the ongoing research at accelerators around the world, the LHC going online and planned future accelerators (NLC & VLHC), it is state-of- the-art research. • The unrelated benefits reaped from past study of nuclear and particle physics (nuclear medicine and accelerated particle treatments of cancer) are of interest to everyone. • Particle physics has strong connections to cosmology and astrophysics, at the opposite scale of physics. It is therefore “all inclusive”. • Use as an introduction to the role of engineering in science. Why study particle physics? • On the more advanced level, it is a culmination of mechanics (Lagrangians & Hamiltonians), E&M (accelerator physics; QED), statistical physics (QCD field theory) and modern physics (20 th century). Good capstone course for undergraduates • It illustrates the interplay between theory, phenomenology and experimentation. Elements of particle physics in the curriculum • Particle physics in the curriculum should include instruction on the basic foundation of matter, introduction to the known fundamental forces, problems addressed by each sub-area of particle physics and the current experimental research to test the models proposed by theorists. • It should include theoretical, experimental and phenomenological aspects of the field. • The excitement of doing HEP as a physicist should be emphasized. Fundamental questions to address • What is the ultimate structure of matter? QCD, QED, EW, Standard Model, beyond SM • What is the origin of mass? Higgs mechanism • Why is gravity so weak? – If X=fractional contribution of gravitational binding energy to the proton’s rest mass: – X ≡ (Gm p 2 /R p )/(m p c 2 ) ≈ 10 -39 (dimensionless) – See: F. Wilczek, “QCD and Natural Philosophy”, arXiv:physics/0212025 – Is this a result of 4D space-time? Fundamental questions to address • How does particle physics play a role in astrophysics and cosmology? • Can the known forces be explained in terms of a unifying theory? – Long time unification – air, water, earth and fire ⇔ gas, liquid, solid, plasma – Unification of gravitational & inertial mass, electricity & magnetism, E-W forces, the standard model (E-W + QCD) and GUTs and TOEs (all inclusive) Particle physics curriculum at various levels of instruction: high school • AP topics in modern physics as a prelude: – Key experiments, nuclear physics, γ (photons) • Particle adventure – fundamental particles & interactions • Quarknet activities • Possible topics: – nuclear structure: make the connection between molecules, atoms and nuclei with fundamental particles – talk about relative scales of each in macroscopic terms (p + –e - distance in H-atom is like basketball or soccer ball to 10 km landmark) • AP topics in modern physics as a prelude: – Key experiments, nuclear physics, γ (photons) • Particle adventure – fundamental particles & interactions • Quarknet activities • Possible topics: – nuclear structure: make the connection between molecules, atoms and nuclei with fundamental particles – talk about relative scales of each in macroscopic terms (p + –e - distance in H-atom is like basketball or soccer ball to 10 km landmark) Particle physics curriculum at various levels of instruction: high school – Application of basic physical laws (forces & conservation laws) to particle physics – Overview of the scientific process (modeling, experimentation and their interplay) – Elementary quark model and role of gluons – Overview of experimental facilities – Hands-on activities – Application of basic physical laws (forces & conservation laws) to particle physics – Overview of the scientific process (modeling, experimentation and their interplay) – Elementary quark model and role of gluons – Overview of experimental facilities – Hands-on activities Particle physics curriculum at various levels of instruction: high school • Tools for instruction in high school courses: – Quarknet – I2U2 (Interactions in Understanding the Universe – Simulated data from accelerators – FNAL programs – PAN (Physics of Atomic Nuclei) – Cosmic ray e-Lab – EPPOG – European PP outreach group • See talks in session IE: Sun a.m., H-Crystal A • Tools for instruction in high school courses: – Quarknet – I2U2 (Interactions in Understanding the Universe – Simulated data from accelerators – FNAL programs – PAN (Physics of Atomic Nuclei) – Cosmic ray e-Lab – EPPOG – European PP outreach group • See talks in session IE: Sun a.m., H-Crystal A [...]... undergraduate curriculum • Two levels of courses for physics majors/minors: pre-QM (sophomore) and post-QM (senior) • Essential topics to cover and references in both: • Basic structure of matter • Historical introduction (fundamental particles and forces, models in nuclear and particle physics – shell, liquid drop; eightfold way and the quark model, QED, QCD standard model) • Symmetries (groups, spin, angular... strong • Each force has a “carrier” or mediator particle called “Bosons” • Bosons for each force are: graviton, W± & Z0, photon and gluons • Nuclei are composed of quarks and gluons • The SM connects the weak, EM and strong forces via QM and field theory Unanswered questions in the SM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 How do we include gravity into the SM? Gen Rel vs QM What gives particles mass? Higgs field and associated... neutral weak interactions, EW unification) Gauge theories (more on grad level or for an advanced class) Accelerators and detectors (facilities) Current theoretical and experimental research in these areas integrated throughout the topics Include unification, SUSY Particle physics in the undergraduate curriculum • Mention TOEs, string theory, BNL (see texts for topics) • Hint as to how elements of HEP can... course • Qualitative overview of present problems in HEP and cosmology: fundamental structure of matter (nuclear and sub-nuclear, unification of forces, dark matter and energy, matter and anti-matter imbalance) • Hands-on activities (see the list for the high school curriculum) • Practical applications (e.g., medical) resulting from study of nuclei and particles Particle physics curriculum: undergraduate... overview for non-scientists • Modern physics course topics; introduction should be the Particle Adventure for the fundamentals (see texts for topics) • The advanced course can take on two forms: intermediate (pre-QM) and advanced (post-QM) Particle physics curriculum at various levels of instruction: undergraduate • Overview course for non-scientists: “Particle Physics for (fill in your favorite humanities... variables (CPT) • Bound states • Dynamics: forces, interactions, decays and conservation laws Particle physics in the undergraduate curriculum: pre-QM course • Additional topics to include: – Unification schemes – Mathematical techniques: relativistic kinematics (4vectors); scattering – Accelerators & detectors (worldwide facilities) – QED (Dirac equation, cross sections and scattering) – QCD (asymptotic freedom,... COM = 2 TeV • 5 crossing points: two experiments at B0: CDF & “D0” CDF (Colliding Detector “Facility”) Brookhaven National Laboratory Inside RHIC RHIC superconducting magnet Inside the RHIC tunnel Two tubes, 2.4-mile ring Computer image magnetic field Unfortunately, cannot observe colored particles directly… Look for hadron jets as signal of scattered partons: STAR p+p, √s = 200 GeV STAR Au+Au, √s NN=... hardware and infrastructure (grids) – Magnet engineering & development – Superconducting technology & cryogenics – Free electron laser development – Tunnel engineering & geological studies – Training of highly technical workforce – Etc… (fill in your favorite applications – WWW!) The Standard Model (SM) • 12 Building Blocks of matter: 6 quarks & 6 leptons • Interactions are governed by 4 forces: gravity,... Chromodynamics (QCD) QCD = Theory of strong interaction  QCD more difficult than EM theory: 1 Gluons interact with each other (quarks) 2 Strong interaction 100× stronger than EM  QCD: Very complicated processes make large contributions EM: simplest processes have largest effects; more complicated give higher precision  Virtual q and g constantly created/destroyed - field theory Interactions must be taken... and g constantly created/destroyed - field theory Interactions must be taken into account Spin may be more important in QCD than atomic physics Particle physics in the graduate curriculum • Graduate topics include: – Field theory – Feynman rules & review of QED and QCD – Standard model review – Masses and Higgs mechanism – CP violation – Neutrino physics – Experimental methods – Phenomenology – Unification . GUTs, TOEs and stringy things: GUTs, TOEs and stringy things: biology or high-energy physics? biology or high-energy physics? Subtitle:. field theory) and modern physics (20 th century). Good capstone course for undergraduates • It illustrates the interplay between theory, phenomenology and experimentation.