Lecture courses

Michaelmas Term 2011

Accelerator Physics - Professor E. Wilson

  1. Overview of the history of accelerators from the invention of linear accelerators and cyclotrons, the discovery of phase stability, the invention of the synchrotron leading to the modern circular and linear colliders.
  2. Magnet configurations for guiding and focusing the beam of accelerated particles, magnetic rigidity, and two dimensional field expansions. The design of dipoles, quadrupoles and multipole magnets.
  3. Transverse optics – strong and weak focusing, Hill’s equation and its solutions in algebraic and matrix form. Computational methods for patterns of focusing magnets. Invariants of transverse motion and the parameters which describe beam size and emittance.
  4. Longitudinal beam dynamics – phase stability in a repetitive acceleration system. Transition and momentum compaction. The effect of momentum spread.
  5. Principles and design of microwave cavities for acceleration, phase and group velocity – transit time factor and shunt impedance.
  6. Synchrotron radiation effects in electron accelerators including the spectrum, energy loss per turn, damping of both transverse and longitudinal oscillation and equilibrium beam size.

This is the first half of a series to be completed in Hilary Term. The format is two lectures in each week of term of Michaelmas Term supplemented by four two hour classes on Thursday afternoons in weeks 3, 5, 7 and 8. The aim of these classes is to show the student how to use a standard application program which calculates one of the important design features of an accelerator. Specialists in the fields of Magnets, Machine Lattices and Cavities (respectively) will lead the classes. At the end of each class students should be able to run simple data input sets for each program. They will prepare further examples for marking at the next class.

In Hilary term the classes will apply the skills learned in the first term to prepare an outline of a design study of a booster synchroton for the proton driver of a future spallation source. Participating students will hand in draft chapters of different parts of a design review report for marking.

Topics which will be covered in the lectures of the second term are: Wigglers and Undulators, Extraction and Injection, Space Charge, Instabilities, Non-linear dynamics, Beam-Beam Limit and Linear Colliders -

The underlying text is "An Introduction to Particle Accelerators" by Edmund Wilson (OUP) IBSN 0 19 850829 8 with "Engines of Discovery" by Andrew Sessler and Edmund Wilson (WSP) IBSN 978-981-270-071 as background reading.

Advanced Quantum Mechanics - Dr. F. Azfar

  1. Review of Fourier transformations, Dirac-delta functions, bra and ket notation and Green-functions/propagators (concepts). Units. Contour integration in the complex plane.
  2. A review of Special Relativity, 4-vectors, co-variant and contra-variant transformation properties, and the 4-vectors with either. Lorentz-scalars, and tensors, some kinematics if time, E-M tensor and transformation properties of E and B fields.
  3. Time-dependent perturbation theory, and Fermi's Golden rule. Rates and cross-sections. Rutherford scattering example if time.
  4. Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. Operator substitution in p2c2+m2c4, Klein-Gordan equation. Negative energy solutions probability current. Motivation for a relativistic equation linear in the time derivative.
  5. Derivation of the Dirac Equation. Gamma matrices, simple free particle solutions of the Dirac equation, interpretation of spinor components etc. Helicity eigenstates. Introduction of the electromagnetic field into the Dirac and Klein-Gordan equations, p->(p-eA/c)
  6. Electron Propagator. Start with a simple example: propagation of an electron in an arbitrary electro-magnetic field. Expand perturbative series for the propagator and motivate Feynmann graphs from this series. Apply to Rutherford scattering cross-section calculation which in turn will require use of Gamma matrix manipulation, spin sums and trace theorems. Motivate as we go along.
  7. Feynmann rules for scattering explained in conjunction with simple scattering processes. Compton, Moeller, and electron-muon scattering, calculate as many processes as possible. At least one spinless scattering process as well (K-G equation for charged particles). Higher order corrections: a comment on divergences.

Statistics - Professor H. Kraus

  1. Introduction to programming in C++ and the ROOT framework
  2. Statistics and probability. Mean and standard deviation. Random and systematic errors. Error propagation.
  3. Distributions: Binomial, Poisson and Gaussian. Gaussian in 2-dimensions. Error matrix.
  4. Parameter fitting and hypothesis testing. Methods of χ2, moments and maximum likelihood. Maximisation techniques.
  5. Detailed examples: straight line fit, Breit-Wigner with background. Monte Carlo techniques.
  6. Limits
  7. Case studies

Introduction to Symmetries - TBC

This course of 7 lectures (plus 1 examples class) is intended for first year graduate students in experimental Particle and Nuclear Physics. It aims to give an informal introduction to the general subject of symmetries in quantum systems, and to provide the basis for a "practical" knowledge of the most common continuous symmetry groups and their representations, as used in particle physics. The course will assume knowledge of basic non-relativistic quantum mechanics (e.g. hermitian and unitary operators, eigenvalues, constants of the motion, degeneracy, spin-½ formalism), of the mathematics of vectors and matrices, and of four-vectors in Special Relativity.

The topics I plan to cover are:-

  1. Symmetries in quantum systems: translation and rotation invariance, and conservation of linear and angular momentum.
  2. Symmetry and degeneracy: representations of SO(3).
  3. Spin-½ particles.
  4. The Lorentz group.
  5. SU(2).
  6. SU(3).
  7. Symmetries in Lagrangian field theory.

Note:

  1. The above sections do not necessarily correspond to single lectures.
  2. The course will cover a lot of ground, quite rapidly; copies of the lecture notes will be available.
  3. Some preparation for topic 7 above would be desirable, e.g. Lagrangians in classical mechanics.

Textbooks
A useful general introduction to symmetries in quantum mechanics (including ones like P and T which this course won't cover) is provided by chapter 7 of Schiff’s book on Quantum Mechanics (3rd Edition). An alternative is chapter 17 of Merzbacher’s Quantum Mechanics (3rd Edition). A book that is in some ways at about the right level for the course is "Groups, Representations and Physics" by H.F. Jones (IOP Publishing), but it includes far more than I can cover (in particular, the group theory). An earlier but still useful book is "Unitary Symmetry and Elementary Particles" by D.B. Lichtenberg (2nd Edition, Academic Press).

Computing - Dr. P. Gronbech, Mr. C. Hunter and Mr. E. Machon

TBC order and contents may change!

We also have a set of lectures on the web. http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/pp/computing/lecturetimetable.htm

The Computing Facilities

  • PP Unix Overview. Pete Gronbech
  • Networking and Communication. Chris Hunter

Linux

Grid Computing

  • Overview.
  • Job submission: Low level (glite-wms) and high level (Ganga). Ewan McMahon
  • Storage elements and the interfaces to them. Ewan McMahon

Please Note: The sole function of this short computing lecture course is to help new postgraduate students in PNP exploit the local computing facilities effectively. As the computing environment is dynamic, the contents of this course is kept under constant review, in consultation with its intended audience.

Particle Detectors and Electronics - Dr. R. Nickerson and others

1. Introduction RBN

  • Explanation of course purpose, structure etc.
  • Overview of Elements in PP Experiments
  • Discussion to establish level of student knowledge

2. Electronics 1 RBN

  • Basic architectural elements
  • Typical tasks for electronics
  • Racks, Crates, Protocols

3. Electronics 2 RBN

  • Pulse bouncing, grounding
  • basic bits and pieces
  • boards, design methods
  • technologies and trade-offs

4. Electronics 3 RBN

  • Trigger Systems
  • Hierarchy
  • Level 1
  • Level 2
  • labVIEW

5. Opto-electronics AW

  • Data transmission
  • fibre optics

6. Electronics 5 HK

  • Techniques for low T

7. Conventional Scintillator detectors

Introduction to Quantum Field Theory - Prof. J. Cardy

Quantum field theory forms the backbone of many areas of theoretical physics, from gauge theories of particle physics to advanced condensed matter problems. This 18-hour lecture course is intended as an introduction to the subject, taking the student from quantum mechanics to the formulation and solution of relativistic field theories in terms of path integrals.

The course will provide the basic knowledge necessary to study quantum electrodynamics (QED), quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and advanced quantum field theories for condensed matter physics.

A basic knowledge of classical, statistical and quantum mechanics will be assumed, together with complex variable calculus.

The subjects to be covered include

  • Path integral formulation of quantum mechanics
  • Path integrals in field theory: generating functionals
  • Feynman diagrams, Feynman rules
  • S-matrices
  • Divergences and regularisation
  • Renormalisation and renormalisation group
  • Path integrals for fermions

Hamiltonian Dynamics - Dr. C. Warsop

This is an eight lecture course which introduces the essentials of Analytical Mechanics. The aim is to provide the background necessary for students studying advanced beam dynamics or particle physics. The basics of Lagrangian Mechanics, Hamiltonian Mechanics, Canonical Transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory and Perturbation theory are covered. The first four lectures are general mechanics and appropriate for particle and accelerator physics students, whilst the last four lectures concentrate on applications for accelerator physicists. A problems class will also be arranged for accelerator physics students.

Graduate Lectures at RAL - organised by Dr. W.G. Scott (TBC)

(to be held at Denys Wilkinson Building)

There will be a series of lectures at Oxford throughout the Michaelmas and Hilary terms. These are primarily aimed at joint RAL students but other students are welcome to attend (please discuss with your Supervisor).

(below is TBC and subject to change)

  • Lecture 1 "Introductory Lecture" - Dr D Wark
  • Lecture 2 "Precision Experiments" - Dr M Van Der Grinten
  • Lecture 3 "Grid Computing" - Dr R Middleton
  • Lecture 4 "Introduction to FFAG Accelerators" - Professor R Edgecock
  • Lecture 5 "Higgs Searches at LHC" Dr W Murray (via EVO from CERN)
  • Lecture 6 "Particle Identification/Jets etc." - Dr M Wielers

Hilary Term 2012

Accelerator Physics - Professor E. Wilson

In Hilary Term this pattern will continue and classes will apply the skills learned in the first term to prepare an outline of a design study of the LHeC Design Project. Specialists in the fields of Magnets, Machine Lattices and Cavities (respectively) will lead the classes. At the end of each class students should be able to run simple data input sets for each program. They will prepare further examples for marking at the next class. Participating students will hand in draft chapters of different parts of a design review report for marking and the term will end with a presentation of their work by the students.

Topics for the lectures in Hilary Term are:

  1. Coherent and incoherent tune shifts (Professor Ted Wilson)
  2. Magnet Design
  3. Non Linear Dynamics
  4. Instabilities
  5. Beam Transport
  6. Diamond Control System (Dr Riccardo Bartolini)

The underlying text is "An Introduction to Particle Accelerators" by Edmund Wilson (OUP) IBSN 0 19 850829 8 with "Engines of Discovery" by Andrew Sessler and Edmund Wilson (WSP)
IBSN 978-981-270-071 as background reading.

Particle Detector Course Outline - Dr. R. Nickerson and others

This course is the continuation of the Michaelmas term lectures. The course in Hilary builds on the earlier more general material with lectures with increased detail on specific detector issues.

Lecture 1
Calorimetry: Shower Theory B; Homogeneous & Sampling Methods; Radiation lengths, material examples; Interaction lengths, material examples; Compensation; low energy detectors.

Lecture 2
Calorimeters: em calorimetry, resolutions etc.; photons electron separation; statistical pi zero separation; liquid Ar/Kr, gas sampling, scintillator sampling; Crystal detectors

Lecture 3
Calorimetry: Hadronic Calorimeters, resolutions; steel scintillator; compensating; hadron & muon

Lecture 4
Wire Chambers: Wires, gasses, rates, radiation damage; Modes, proportional, streamer, Geiger; Straws; MWPCs

Lecture 5
Wire Chambers: Drift chambers; Jet chambers; TPCs; photon detectors, TEA, TAME

Lecture 6
Silicon: Silicon Signals; Lorenz angle, Shaping and speed; Radiation effects

Lecture 7
Silicon: CCDs; silicon drift detectors; x-ray detectors

Lecture 8
PID: Time of flight, dEdx, gamma/e/pizero; muon detectors; neutrino detection

Lecture 9
PID 2 Threshold Cherenkov detectors; RICH Cherenkov; Transition Radiation

Lecture 10
non-accelerator/dark matter detector design

Lecture 11
Collider Detector Design

Lecture 12
Neutrino detector design

Electromagnetism for Accelerators and Detectors - Dr R. Bartolini

Introduction. The EM phenomena exhibited by charges moving in vacuum and in media.

  1. The EM field of a charge or bunch in a vacuum.Lienard-Wiechert potential. Synchrotron radiation.
  2. Wakefields in accelerators. Smith Purcell radiation. Beam diagnostics.
  3. Some useful models of moving charge in a transparent medium.. A moving charge in a real dispersive and absorptive medium.
  4. Interaction of charged particles with matter: energy loss. Cherenkov and Transition Radiation.

There are 4 lectures. The Powerpoint file of the lectures will be available.

Introduction to QCD - Professor A. Cooper-Sarkar

The course introduces the basics of QCD, the properties of quarks and gluons as revealed in experiments at both high and low momentum transfers. The course will focus on the large momentum, short distance phenomena that give rise to the parton model and perturbative QCD.

Methods for calculating matrix elements in perturbation theory and models for non-perturbative processes will be described. Prior knowledge of QED will be assumed.

The foundations of this intuitive picture in QCD and the formalism of QCD, such as asymptotic freedom, the evolution equations, and first and higher order perturbation theory effects will be described and confronted with data.

The theory and phenomenology, lepton scattering and hadronic processes such as Drell-Yan annihilation and hadronic jets will be discussed. The theory and phenomenology of the Pomeron, at large and small momentum transfers, will be investigated.

Electroweak Interactions - Dr C. Hays

The course will give an overview of the current status of experimental electroweak physics. Sufficient theoretical background will be given to allow a quantitative understanding of the phenomena. Problems given will include numerical evaluation of cross-sections and decay rates.

Survey of fundamental particles and forces and their properties. Relativistic notation, phase space, calculation of cross-sections and decay rates.

Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations, (Y-matricies, trace theorems, QED, massless and massive Gauge Bosons.

Theory of weak interactions from Fermi theory to V-A theory (and its problems) to the Standard Model. Weak isospin and hypercharge. Feynman rules.

Calculation of muon decay in the Standard Model as an example of a purely leptonic process. More general Martix element.

Weak hadronic currents, decays of hadrons. Matrix elements for weak meson and baryon decays. Cabibbo angle & CKM.

Isovector and isoscalar currents, Conserved Vector Current hypothesis. Nuclear beta decay and V-A nature of force. Helicity of the neutrino. Symmetries of weak hadronic currents.

Purely hadronic weak decays. K0 system , mixing and CP violation. Regeneration, strangeness oscillations. Theories of CP violation. Charm quark properties including mixing and CP violation.

Neutrino-electron scattering. Deep inelastic scattering. Electroweak interference effects. e+e -> f fbar.

Tau-lepton properties.

Local gauge symmetries for U(1) and SU(2). Higgs mechanism and particle masses.

W boson properties. Running of electromagnetic coupling constant. Z boson properties. Tests of Standard Model and global electroweak fits. Indirect limits on Higgs mass. Properties of Higgs boson.

b-quark properties including mixing and CP violation. CKM matrix, Unitarity triangle.

Top-quark properties. Neutrino oscillations using solar, atmospheric and accelerator neutrinos. Neutrino mass determinations. Problems with the Standard Model.

Prerequisites: Dr. Azfar's course on Advanced Quantum Mechanics

Books:
Quantum Field Theory, F. Mandl and G. Shaw
Electroweak Interactions, P. Renton

Modern Particle Physics Experiments - Professor P. Burrows and others

The aim of this course is to give an overview of present and future Particle Physics experiments, with particular emphasis to the interests of this Department. For each of the broad subjects listed below there will be a brief historical overview, the discussion of the present experiments and future plans and possibilities. The lectures will highlight the specific experimental difficulties to be overcome in these areas as well as the physics goals and achievements.

Lepton Collider Physics: Phil Burrows
The production of Standard Model fermion-antifermion pairs in the electron-positron annihilations will be reviewed, including cross-section and asymmetry measurements with polarised and unpolarised beams. Production of pairs of W and Z0 bosons at LEP2 will be discussed. These measurements will be interpreted in terms of constraints on the Standard Model. The physics potentially accessible at future higher-energy lepton colliders will be reviewed briefly.

Top-Quark Physics: John Womersley
The discovery of the top-quark at the Fermilab Tevatron, together with the various techniques developed to make precision measurements of the top-quark properties will be discussed. Future prospects at the Tevatron and the first top quark results from LHC will also be discussed.

Hadron colliders: Georg Viehhauser
Previous and current hadron colliders. Discovery of W/Z.
Precision measurements W mass etc.
Discovery of top and precision measurements.
Search for SM Higgs.

Neutrino physics: John Cobb
Although entitled Neutrino Physics these lectures will also cover the wider topic of the Particle Physics - such as Nucleon Decay - which can be studied by large non-accelerator experiments, or experiments far from the source of particles.

The lectures will cover the reasons why the experiments are what and where they are, (e.g. underground). The compromises involved in their design will be discussed.

Since Cosmic Rays determine both the location of the detectors and have produced one of the most exciting Physics results of recent years (Neutrino Oscillations) a brief introduction to Cosmic Rays will be given. Man-made neutrino beams will be described.

Search for Dark Matter: Sam Henry
Experimental dark matter searches. Low-background environments. Cryogenic detectors. The CRESST, EDELWEISS and EURECA experiments. Recent developments on event type recognition using low-temperature scintillators. Study of scintillation light efficiency at low temperature.

HERA physics: James Ferrando
After brief introduction on experimental aspects I will list reactions which are studied and discuss some of them in some detail. Because DIS and structure functions are covered by separate lectures I won't be talking about them. Jets, diffraction, vector meson production and perturbative aspects of QCD will be covered as well as searches for new particles and new interactions.

Graduate Lectures at RAL - organised by Dr. W.G. Scott

(to be at Denys Wilkinson Building)

There will be a series of lectures at Oxford throughout the Michaelmas and Hilary terms. These are primarily aimed at joint RAL students but other students are welcome to attend (please discuss with your Supervisor).

(TBC)

Lecture 7 "First-Level Triggering" - Dr D Newbold (via EVO from Bristol)
Lecture 8 "High-Level Triggering" - Professor F Wickens
Lecture 9 "Computers Interacting with Hardware" - Dr N Gee
Lecture 10 "Introduction to Programmable Logic" - Mr E Freeman
Lecture 11 "Introduction to Calorimeters" - Dr D Cockerill (via EVO from CERN)
Lecture 12 "Introduction to Cerenkov Detectors" - Dr S Easo (via EVO from CERN)
Lecture 13 "Introduction to Silicon Detectors" - Dr G Villani

Trinity Term 2012 (this will be updated)

Theory of Strong & Electroweak Interactions - Dr G. Zanderighi & Dr J. Wheater

Strong Interactions - G. Zanderighi
Experimental evidence for color, SU(3) group, QCD Lagrangian, gauge invariance, Feynman rules, gauge fixing & ghosts, color algebra, isospin symmetry, R-ratio, UV divergences and renormalization, the running coupling and the beta function, asymptotic freedom & confinement, soft & collinear divergences & infrared safety, Sterman- Weinberg jets, parton model, sum rules. determination of parton densities, radiative corrections (failure of parton model), factorization of initial state divergences, DGLAP evolution, current status of pdfs, parton evolution as branching process, parton shower and Sudakov form factor, virtuality ordering and angular ordering, hadronization and underlying event, exact leading order matrix elements matched to parton shower, next-to-leading order, jets.

The electroweak sector of the Standard Model and slightly beyond – G.G.Ross

  • The approximate symmetries of the Standard Model including P, C, CP, T and family symmetries. Precision tests of the model - radiative corrections giving rise to flavour changing neutral current processes and Higgs mass corrections.
  • The extension of the Standard Model to include neutrinos and the origin of quark, charged lepton and neutrino masses and mixing angles.
  • The nature of CP violation in both the quark and lepton sectors, including strong CP violation, the axion and the possibility of measuring CP violation in the neutrino sector.
  • Time permitting : The hierarchy problem, its possible solution and the prospects for a fully unified theory.

Astroparticle Physics - Professor S. Sarkar

(TBC)

Lecture 1: The universe observed: world models
Lecture 2: Reconstructing our thermal history: CMB & BBN
Lecture 3: Dark matter and relic particles I
Lecture 4: Dark matter and relic particles II
Lecture 5: Cosmic particle acceleration
Lecture 6: Cosmic ray propagation in the Galaxy
Lecture 7: UHE cosmic rays and neutrinos
Lecture 8: Relic topological defects
Lecture 9: Baryo/leptogenesis
Lecture 10: Inflation
Lecture 11: CMB, large-scale structure and dark energy
Lecture 12: Discussion