Understanding the Universe: From Quarks to the CosmosWorld Scientific, 2004 - 567 pages The Big Bang, the birth of the universe, was a singular event. All of the matter of the universe was concentrated at a single point, with temperatures so high that even the familiar protons and neutrons of atoms did not yet exist, but rather were replaced by a swirling maelstrom of energy, matter and antimatter. Exotic quarks and leptons flickered briefly into existence, before merging back into the energy sea.This book explains the fascinating world of quarks and leptons and the forces that govern their behavior. Told from an experimental physicist's perspective, it forgoes mathematical complexity, using instead particularly accessible figures and apt analogies. In addition to the story of quarks and leptons, which are regarded as well-accepted fact, the author who is a leading researcher at the world's highest energy particle physics laboratory also discusses mysteries on both the experimental and theoretical frontier, before tying it all together with the exciting field of cosmology and indeed the birth of the universe itself.The text spans the tiny world of the quark to the depths of the universe with exceptional clarity. The casual student of science will appreciate the careful distinction between what is known (quarks, leptons and antimatter), what is suspected (Higgs bosons, neutrino oscillations and the reason why the universe has so little antimatter) and what is merely dreamed (supersymmetry, superstrings and extra dimensions). Included is an unprecedented chapter explaining the accelerators and detectors of modern particle physics experiments. The chapter discussing the hunt for the Higgs boson, currently consuming the efforts of nearly 1000 physicists, lends drama that only big-stakes science can give. Understanding the Universe leaves the reader with a deep appreciation of the fascinating particle realm and just how much it determines the rich beauty of our universe. |
Contents
Early History | 1 |
The Path to Knowledge History of Particle Physics | 22 |
Quarks and Leptons | 107 |
Forces What Holds it All Together | 147 |
Hunting for the Higgs | 209 |
Accelerators and Detectors Tools of the Trade | 248 |
Near Term Mysteries | 315 |
Exotic Physics The Next Frontier | 383 |
Greek Symbols | 492 |
Scientific Jargon | 493 |
ParticleNaming Rules | 496 |
Essential Relativity and Quantum Mechanics | 501 |
Higgs Boson Production | 513 |
Neutrino Oscillations | 519 |
Further Reading | 525 |
Glossary | 535 |
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Common terms and phrases
accelerator alpha particles antimatter antiprotons antiquark atom baryons beam behavior beta Big Bang billion bottom quark called cathode rays Chapter charged lepton charged particle collision cosmic rays cosmology decay detector direction discovery discussion distance elec electric field electrical charge electromagnetic force electron neutrino equation event exist experimental experiments explain extra dimensions fact Fermilab fermions Feynman diagram galaxies gluon gravity hadrons Higgs boson Higgs field hydrogen idea interact interesting Laboratory light look magnetic mass massless measure meson meters moving muon neutrinos neutral neutrino oscillations neutron Nobel Prize nuclear nucleus observed pairs parity particle physics physicists pions Planck plates positron predicted proton quantum mechanics question radiation radioactive recall Rutherford scientists space speed spin strange quark strong force supersymmetric particles SUSY symmetry Tevatron theory things ticles tion top quark understand universe weak force Z boson zero