From Photons To Higgs: A Story Of Light (2nd Edition) / Edition 2

by Moo-young Han

Overview

This book presents a brief introduction to the quantum field theory of the Standard Model for quarks and leptons. With minimal use of mathematics, it covers the basics of quantum field theory, local gauge field theory, spontaneous symmetry breaking mechanism, the Higgs mechanism and quantum chromodynamics.From the time when the first edition was published until today, the field of particle physics has seen some major break-through with the possible discovery of Higgs particle, also known as the Higgs boson. In the second edition, the famous Higgs mechanism is included to explain the symmetry breaking in the Standard Model and the origin of mass, and all of this is explained in high-school level algebra.Aimed at both scientists and non-specialists, it requires only some rudimentary knowledge of the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulation of Newtonian mechanics as well as a basic understanding of the special theory of relativity and quantum mechanics to enjoy this book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789814583862
Publisher:	World Scientific Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	04/17/2014
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.50(d)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Foreword to the Second Edition ix

Prologue 1

1 Particles and Fields I: Dichotomy 5

2 Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Dynamics 10

3 Canonical Quantization 17

4 Particles and Fields II: Duality 22

5 Equations for Duality 26

6 Electromagnetic Field 34

7 Emulation of Light I: Matter Fields 37

8 Road Map for Field Quantization 41

9 Particles and Fields III: Particles as Quanta of Fields 47

10 Emulation of Light II: Interactions 55

11 Triumph and Wane 61

12 Leptons and Quarks 67

13 What is Gauge Field Theory? 75

14 The Weak Gauge Fields 81

15 The Higgs Mechanism and the Electroweak Gauge Fields 87

16 The Higgs Particle 94

17 Evolution of the Strong Force 97

18 The History of Color SU(3) Symmetry 102

19 Quantum Chromodynamics, QCD 107

Appendix 1 The Natural Unit System 111

Appendix 2 Notation 113

Appendix 3 Velocity-Dependent Potential 115

Appendix 4 Fourier Decomposition of Field 118

Appendix 5 Mass Units for Particles 120

Appendix 6 Mass-Range Relation 122

Index 124