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Supersymmetry in Particle Physics

Supersymmetry in Particle Physics

Supersymmetry in Particle Physics

An Elementary Introduction
Ian Aitchison, University of Oxford
November 2007
Available
Hardback
9780521880237
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    Supersymmetry represents the culmination of the search for fundamental symmetries that has dominated particle physics for 50 years. Traditionally, the constituents of matter (fermions) were regarded as different from the particles (bosons) transmitting the forces between them. In supersymmetry, fermions and bosons are unified. Intended for graduate students in particle physics, and researchers in experimental and phenomenological supersymmetry, this textbook, first published in 2007, provides a simple introduction to a previously formidably technical field. Its elementary, practical treatment brings readers to the frontier of contemporary research, in particular the experiments at the Large Hadron Collider. Theories are constructed through an intuitive 'trial and error' approach. Basic elements of spinor formalism and superfields are introduced, allowing readers to access more advanced treatments. Emphasis is placed on physical understanding, and on detailed derivations of important steps. Many short exercises are included, making for a valuable and accessible self-study tool.

    • Builds on information from standard relativistic quantum mechanics courses, and also introduces new topics from scratch, so useful to readers at all levels
    • Constructs theories using a 'trial-and-error' approach rather than a formal deductive one, allowing for an intuitive understanding of this formal subject
    • Contains many short exercises that are useful for self-study

    Reviews & endorsements

    'Any student or practising physicist who wants to learn about the phenomenological implications of TeV-scale supersymmetry without spending the time to master the more mathematical approaches to the subject would do well to acquire a copy of Supersymmetry in Particle Physics. It is a unique text that has value both on its own accord and as a supplement to larger and more comprehensive texts. This is indeed entry-level supersymmetry in its best and most practical sense.' Physics Today

    See more reviews

    Product details

    November 2007
    Hardback
    9780521880237
    238 pages
    254 × 176 × 18 mm
    0.63kg
    15 b/w illus. 39 exercises
    Available

    Table of Contents

    • 1. Introduction and motivation
    • 2. Spinors: Weyl, Dirac and Majorana
    • 3. A simple supersymmetric Lagrangian, and a first glance at the MSSM
    • 4. The supersymmetry algebra and supermultiplets
    • 5. The Wess-Zumino model
    • 6. Superfields
    • 7. Vector (or gauge) supermultiplets
    • 8. The MSSM
    • 9. SUSY breaking
    • 10. The Higgs sector and electroweak symmetry breaking in the MSSM
    • 11. Sparticle masses in the MSSM
    • 12. Some simple tree-level calculations in the MSSM
    • References
    • Index.
      Author
    • Ian Aitchison , University of Oxford

      Ian Aitchison is Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford. His research interests include time dependent effective theories of superconductors, field theories at finite temperature, and toplogical aspects of gauge theories.