The Charm of Strange Quarks

by Barnett, R. Michael; Muhry, Henry; Quinn, Helen R.

• ISBN13: 9780387988979
• ISBN10: 0387988971
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-06-01
• Publisher: Amer Inst of Physics

Summary

A primer on the evolution of particle physics and the search for the fundamental building blocks of matter. The book presents the full current body of understanding of particle physics in way accessible to a reader with some basic principles of physics (energy, momentum, electrical charge). This concise book tells the fascinating story of how 20th century physicists revealed layer upon layer of structure within the atom to reach the basic particles of matter, and then culminates in descriptions of current theories which form the Standard Model and the discovery of the top quark. Includes chapters on cosmology.The book includes many illustrations and photographs, and integrates the stories of the individual scientists throughout. Includes 4 color photographs, and the famous "Particle Chart". The book is a collaboration among eminent physicists (including J.D. Jackson and G. Goldhaber) at LBL, CERN and high school teachers in the Contemporary Physics Education Project to develop a novel book to teach particle physics to students.Book can thus be used as a supplement for courses in advanced high school and physics courses.FROM THE REVIEWS:¿¿Recommended as a supplementary text for introductory college courses or for advanced high-school courses; science teachers will find it useful for updating their knowledge in an ever-expanding field of physics research.¿¿PHYSICS TODAY

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Acknowledgments	vii
Contributors	xi
Prologue	xiii
The November Revolution	1	(10)
The Elusive Trial to the Standard Model	11	(34)
The Mystery of Flavors	45	(26)
Carriers of Force	71	(14)
Anything that Can Happen Will Happen	85	(10)
Precision Detectors Lead to Great Discoveries	95	(26)
Creating Extremely High-Energy Collisions	121	(22)
Astrophysics Meets Particle Physics	143	(26)
The Status of the Standard Model	169	(20)
A Historical Perspective on Particle Physics	189	(20)
A Appendix: The Greek Alphabet	209	(2)
B Appendix: Glossary	211	(12)
C Appendix: How Detectors Work	223	(12)
D Appendix: Basic Physics Concepts Applied to Particles	235	(50)
E Appendix: Suggested Reading	285	(8)
People Index	293	(2)
General Index	295