PHYSICS 165
Introduction to Particle Physics
We expect to offer Physics 165 in Spring 2026. Please see our 2024 Agenda Page for an archived version of the most recent offering of the course.
Course Information
Physics 165: Introduction to Particle Physics. 4 Units.
Prof. Flip Tanedo (Physics 3054 / flip.tanedo@ucr.edu)
Office Hours by appointment (see booking page on Canvas)
Meeting times: TR 9:30 - 10:50 AM, Physics 2104
Final exam slot: 8:00 - 11:00 AM, Friday June 14
(We will not use these discussion slots.)
Canvas Page / See Agenda for homework and submission links
All other information: Syllabus
This is an introduction to elementary particle physics, the study of the fundamental constituents of matter and the forces that dictate their interactions. We focus on building a theoretical understanding of the Standard Model of particle physics based on Feynman diagrams. Key topics: relativistic kinematics, diagrammatic approach to model building, basic calculations, basic representation theory with indices, electroweak symmetry breaking, and the big gaping questions in our fundamental understanding of nature.
Pre-requisites:
Physics 156A/B (Quantum Mechanics)
Not having the formal preparation can be made up for with an enthusiasm to take time to dig into the material. If you have concerns about meeting the pre-requisites, please email Prof. Tanedo ahead of the course.
Why should I take this course? The topics of the course will prepare students for an in-depth study of theoretical or experimental particle physics. It complements high-energy astrophysics, cosmology, and multi-messenger astronomy. The methods in this course preview quantum field theory and would thus be relevant for anyone interested in theoretical physics of any type.
Required Textbook: There is currently not an ideal textbook for the course, but the Standard Model Workbook by Thomas Moore is very close to our approach and is a useful reference. We will occasionally deviate from the book or focus on complementary topics.
Additional resources:
The Particle Data Book is a compendium of particle physics knowledge available free online.
Prof. Tanedo's Physics 17: Linear Algebra for Physicists notes goes into the index notation that we utilize in this course.
An excellent summary for the current status of particle physics is the P5 report.
Further References
The previous textbook for the course was:
Introduction to Elementary Particles, David Griffiths.
This book is a classic and appropriate for the level of the course. Unfortunately it is a bit antiquated so we will skip a some sections, go deeper in others, add a few other topics, and do none of this in the order that the book is written. That being said, there is a lot of good physics in the book that is worth understanding if you are willing to put in the time to read it cover-to-cover.
Here are some other references that you may find useful:
Elementary Particle Physics: An Intuitive Introduction, Larkoski.
QED: The Strange Theory of Light & Matter, Feynman
This is a public-level book based on Feynman's Douglas Robb lectures. It may fit well as a non-technical supplement to first part of the course.Course Notes from 2017 by Adam Green
Depending on your background, you may also be interested in one of the following sources. These are not organized the same way as our course, but they may be useful for referencing specific sections.
Introduction to Elementary Particle Physics, Bettini.
This book has a more experimental focus.The Standard Model in a Nutshell by Goldberg.
A book with a slightly more theoretical focus.Concepts of Elementary Particle Physics, Peskin
A book with a slightly more theoretical focus.Particle Physics: A Comprehensive Introduction, Seiden
Particle Physics: A Los Alamos Primer: this is an old collection of articles accessible to an advanced high school student. The mathematical level is modest, but the articles articulate the way that physicists think about particles.
See: "Particle Physics & the Standard Model," Raby, Slansky, West
See: "Lecture Notes: from simple field theories to the Standard Model," Slansky
Previous Course Offerings
Spring 2023: home | notes | agenda | instructor | rubric | FAQ_S24
Spring 2022: home | notes | agenda | instructor | rubric | FAQ | COVID policy
Winter 2020: the 2020 lecture notes are a reasonable approximation to our course.