Phone: 492-2495 (w. voice mail) (My nuclear physics lab number is x2-3764)

Office: F419 in the Gamow Tower

Office Hours (tentative): Mon 12-2, Tues. 1:10-2:30, and other times by app't.

Email/Electronic Office Hours: pollock@lucky.colorado.edu (anytime)

Lectures: MWF 11-12 PM in Duane 0041

Texts:

Required: "Subatomic Physics", by H. Frauenfelder and E.M. Henley ("F+H")

Homework assignments will often come out of F+ H. There will be a copy on reserve in the physics library.

Suggested: "Quantum Physics" , by S. Gasiorowicz (Also on reserve in the library)

This is the standard textbook for Quantum I and II, and some of the material (towards the end) is useful when we get to scattering, cross sections, and radiative transitions.

Examples of useful references: (Some are on reserve, all should be in our library)

D. Perkins, "Introduction to High Energy Physics" (Very useful as optional reference!)

G Kane, "Modern Elementary Particle Physics" (Field theory, useful at end of semester)

Halzen and Martin, "Quarks and Leptons" (A bit more advanced but quite readable)

F. Close, "An Intro. to Quarks and Partons" (Similar to above, but focused on quarks)

K. Gottfried and Weisskopf, "Concepts of Particle Physics"  (Nice for any theory gaps)

L.J. Tassie, "Elementary Particles" (Nice book for learning about the properties of the "zoo")

G.D. Coughlan and J.E. Dodd, "The Ideas of Particle Physics" (Nice intro, perhaps simpler level than our text)

Eisberg and Resnick, "Quantum Physics" (Good background/quantum)

Feynman, Leighton, and Sands: "The Feynman Lectures on Physics, part III." (Part of a truly wonderful series of "introductory" physics books)

G. Kane "The Particle Garden" (A decent particle physics for non-scientists book)

M. Boas, "Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences", (mathematical tricks and techniques you may have forgotten)

Physics 4420 is a senior level course covering a variety of aspects of modern nuclear and elementary particle physics. We will learn about the subatomic zoo, symmetries and conservation laws, the fundamental interactions of nature, and some models of particles and nuclei, including the "Standard Model" of particle physics. We will also have a cursory introduction to the ideas and language of quantum field theory.

(This course satisfies the A+S critical thinking requirement)

Because solutions will be posted, late homeworks can not be accepted.

Grades and Exams: We will have one midterm (tentatively scheduled for the evening of Thurs, Mar 13). There will be a research term paper due on April 14, followed by presentations of your papers Apr 21-25.

We will either have a final exam (Sat, May 10, 3:30-6:30) or a "final problem set" (to be done entirely on your own).

The combined normal homeworks, mid-term, final (or final homework), and term paper/presentation will each count roughly equally towards your final grade. Class participation will carry some weighting too.

Computer info: Everyone in this class should already have an account in the NeXT lab, Duane 0060a. If not, this can be done on your own, through Netscape (or CUline PLUS). Choose the URL http://www.colorado.edu/plus, and set up an account (under SAC, student account creation) on aeinstein. To get a door code, you must remotely log into your new account: username@pdirac which should be available after an hour or so. The door code should appear in the file door_code. If this fails, computer help is available from Doug Johnson, drjohn@pizero.colorado.edu.

Doug should be posting office hours (for computer related questions) shortly.

Copies of hw assignments, brief summaries of classes, and late announcements will be at this web site. Occasionally, extra credit hw problems or interesting links may appear as well.

If you have any questions at any time, feel free to send me an email. I will answer your questions via emaill, and will also post the question (anonymously) and my response on the web, so if you're stuck you might want to take a look to see if someone else has already asked the same question.

Reading Assignments: We will basically be following F+H. The syllabus for this semester will take us through as much of the text as we have time for, although we will skip a few parts (especially in Part V). For more information, see p. 6 of the class notes in the library. Reading the textbook before class is highly encouraged. (Each homework will also have a required reading assignment)