Fundamentals of Electroweak Theory

Course guarantor:

Lecturer:

Tutor:

Supervisor:

Department of Physics

Synopsis:

The path to the phenomenological V-A theory of the weak interactions. The idea of unification of weak and electromagnetic interactions. Nonabelian gauge fields and the Higgs mechanism. The Glashow-Weinberg-Salam standard model of electroweak interactions.

Requirements:

Knowledge of basic course of physics, quantum mechanics and quantum field theory.

Syllabus of lectures:

1. Neutron beta decay. Fermi theory.

2. Parity non-conservation.

3. Theory of 2-component neutrino. Weyl's equation.

4. Muon decay.

5. Weak hyperon decays. The Cabbibo angle.

6. Weak interactions of quarks and leptons.

7. Model with charged intermediate vector boson W.

8. The idea of unification of weak and elekctromagnetic interactions.

9. Non-Abelian gauge invariance and the Yang-Mills field.

10. Spontaneous breaking of symmetry and Goldstone's boson.

11.-12. Standard model of electroweak interactions proposed by Glashow, Weinberg and Salam.

Syllabus of tutorials:

Solving exercises on the following topics:

1. Neutron beta decay. Fermi theory.

2. Parity non-conservation.

3. Theory of 2-component neutrino. Weyl's equation.

4. Muon decay.

5. Weak hyperon decays. The Cabbibo angle.

6. Weak interactions of quarks and leptons.

7. Model with charged intermediate vector boson W.

8. The idea of unification of weak and elekctromagnetic interactions.

9. Non-Abelian gauge invariance and the Yang-Mills field.

10. Spontaneous breaking of symmetry and Goldstone's boson.

11.-12. Standard model of electroweak interactions proposed by Glashow, Weinberg and Salam.

Study Objective:

Knowledge:

Fundamentals of electro-weak theory

Skills:

Individual calculations in the theory of electroweak interactions

Study materials:

Key references:

[1] J. Hořejší: „Fundamentals of electroweak theory“, Karolinum, Praha 2002

Recommended references:

[2] W.Greiner, B.Müller: Gauge Theory of Weak Interactions, Springer, 2009

Note:

Further information:

No time-table has been prepared for this course

The course is a part of the following study plans: