Particle Physics: an Introduction

  • 4.4
Approx. 41 hours to complete

Course Summary

Explore the fundamental constituents of matter and the forces that govern them in this particle physics course.

Key Learning Points

  • Learn about the Standard Model of particle physics and beyond
  • Understand the experimental techniques used in particle physics
  • Gain insight into the latest particle physics research

Job Positions & Salaries of people who have taken this course might have

    • USA: $123,000
    • India: ₹1,500,000
    • Spain: €40,000
    • USA: $123,000
    • India: ₹1,500,000
    • Spain: €40,000

    • USA: $85,000
    • India: ₹800,000
    • Spain: €30,000
    • USA: $123,000
    • India: ₹1,500,000
    • Spain: €40,000

    • USA: $85,000
    • India: ₹800,000
    • Spain: €30,000

    • USA: $65,000
    • India: ₹600,000
    • Spain: €25,000

Related Topics for further study


Learning Outcomes

  • Understand the fundamental constituents of matter and the forces that govern them
  • Gain insight into the latest particle physics research and discoveries
  • Develop the skills to analyze and interpret particle physics data

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

  • Understanding of basic physics concepts
  • Familiarity with calculus and linear algebra

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

  • Online
  • Self-paced

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Related Education Paths


Notable People in This Field

  • Theoretical Physicist
  • Theoretical Physicist

Related Books

Description

This course introduces you to subatomic physics, i.e. the physics of nuclei and particles.

Outline

  • Matter and forces, measuring and counting
  • General presentation of the course
  • 1.1 Matter
  • 1.2 Forces
  • 1.2a Natural units (optional)
  • 1.2b Special relativity and four-vectors (optional)
  • 1.2c Virtual particles (optional)
  • 1.3 Probability and cross section
  • 1.3a Attenuation of a photon beam (optional)
  • 1.4 Rutherford experiment
  • 1.4a Rutherford cross section (optional)
  • 1.4b Counting rate Rutherford (optional)
  • 1.5 Quantum scattering
  • 1.6 Rutherford experiment in practice (optional)
  • 1.1 Matter
  • 1.2 Forces
  • 1.3 Probability and cross section
  • 1.4 Rutherford experiment
  • 1.5 Quantum scattering
  • Graded quiz for Module 1
  • Nuclear physics
  • 2.1 Nuclear mass and binding energy
  • 2.2 Nuclear size and spin
  • 2.3 Models of nuclear structure
  • 2.3a QCD and nuclear force (optional)
  • 2.4 Radioactivity: alpha decay
  • 2.4a Energy of alpha particles (optional)
  • 2.5 Beta and gamma decay
  • 2.5a Exponential decay law (optional)
  • 2.6 Radioactivity in practice (optional)
  • 2.7 Radiocarbon dating and NMR imaging
  • 2.8 Nuclear fission
  • 2.9 Nuclear power
  • 2.10 Nuclear fusion, the Sun and ITER
  • 2.11 The tokamak of EPFL (optional)
  • 2.12 The Beznau nuclear power plant (optional)
  • 2.1 Nuclear mass and binding energy
  • 2.2 Nuclear size and spin
  • 2.3 Models of nuclear structure
  • 2.4 Radioactivity: alpha decay
  • 2.5 Beta and gamma decay
  • 2.7 Radiocarbon dating and NMR imaging
  • 2.8 Nuclear fission
  • 2.9 Nuclear power
  • 2.10 Nuclear fusion, the Sun and ITER
  • Graded quiz for Module 2
  • Accelerators and detectors
  • 3.1 Principles of particle acceleration
  • 3.1a Cyclotron frequency (optional)
  • 3.2 Acceleration and focalisation
  • 3.2a The CERN accelerator complex (optional)
  • 3.3 Components of the LHC (optional)
  • 3.4 Heavy particles in matter
  • 3.5 Light particles in matter
  • 3.6 Photons in matter
  • 3.7 Ionisation detectors
  • 3.8 Semiconductor detectors
  • 3.9 Scintillation and Cherenkov detectors
  • 3.10 Spectrometers and calorimeters
  • 3.10a Particle detection with ATLAS (optional)
  • 3.11 Particle detectors at DPNC (optional)
  • 3.1 Principles of particle acceleration
  • 3.2 Acceleration and focalisation
  • 3.4 Heavy particles in matter
  • 3.5 Light particles in matter
  • 3.6 Photons in matter
  • 3.7 Ionisation detectors
  • 3.8 Semiconductor detectors
  • 3.9 Scintillation and Cherenkov detectors
  • 3.10 Spectrometers and calorimeters
  • Graded quiz for Module 3
  • Electromagnetic interactions
  • 4.1 Reminder: Describing particle interactions
  • 4.1a How to construct a Feynman diagram (optional)
  • 4.2 Electromagnetic scattering
  • 4.3 Spin and magnetic moment
  • 4.3a Motion in a Penning Trap
  • 4.4 Compton scattering and pair annihilation
  • 4.5 Electron-positron annihilation
  • 4.1 Reminder: Describing particle interactions
  • 4.2 Electromagnetic scattering
  • 4.3 Spin and magnetic moment
  • 4.4 Compton scattering and pair annihilation
  • 4.5 Electron-positron annihilation
  • Graded quiz for Module 4
  • Hadrons and strong interaction
  • 5.1 Elastic electron-nucleon scattering
  • 5.2 Inelastic scattering and quarks
  • 5.3 Quark-antiquark resonances and mesons
  • 5.4 Color and strong interactions
  • 5.5 Hadronisation and jets
  • 5.1 Elastic electron-nucleon scattering
  • 5.2 Inelastic scattering and quarks
  • 5.3 Quark-antiquark resonances and mesons
  • 5.4 Color and strong interactions
  • 5.5 Hadronisation and jets
  • Graded quiz for Module 5
  • Electro-weak interactions
  • 6.1 Particles and antiparticles
  • 6.2 The discrete transformations C, P and T
  • 6.3 Weak charges and interactions
  • 6.4 Muon and tau lepton decay
  • 6.5 The W boson
  • 6.6 The Z boson
  • 6.7 Weak decays of quarks
  • 6.8 Particle-antiparticle oscillations and CP violation
  • 6.9 Neutrino scattering
  • 6.10 Neutrino oscillations
  • 6.11 The Higgs mechanism
  • 6.12 The Higgs boson
  • 6.13 The discovery of the Higgs boson (optional)
  • 6.1 Particles and antiparticles
  • 6.2 The discrete transformations C, P and T
  • 6.3 Weak charges and interactions
  • 6.4 Muon and tau lepton decay
  • 6.5 The W boson
  • 6.6 The Z boson
  • 6.7 Weak decays of quarks
  • 6.8 Particle-antiparticle oscillations and CP violation
  • 6.9 Neutrino scattering
  • 6.10 Neutrino oscillations
  • 6.11 The Higgs mechanism
  • 6.12 The Higgs boson
  • Graded quiz for Module 6
  • Discovering new phenomena
  • 7.1 The world beyond the Standard Model
  • 7.2 Sifting chaff from the wheat
  • 7.3 Hunting peaks
  • 7.4 Hunting tails
  • 7.5 Hunting new physics with LHCb (optional)
  • 7.1 The world beyond the Standard Model
  • 7.2 Sifting chaff from the wheat
  • 7.3 Hunting peaks
  • 7.4 Hunting tails
  • Graded quiz for Module 7
  • Dark matter and dark energy
  • 8.1 The Big Bang and its consequences
  • 8.2 Dark matter
  • 8.3 Dark energy
  • 8.3a Motivating the Friedmann equation (optional)
  • 8.4 What hides behind dark matter and dark energy? (optional)
  • 8.1 The Big Bang and its consequences
  • 8.2 Dark matter
  • 8.3 Dark energy
  • Graded quiz for Module 8

Summary of User Reviews

Discover the fascinating world of particle physics with this excellent course on Coursera. The course has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from students across the globe. Many users have praised the course for its engaging content and interactive approach.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

Engaging content

Pros from User Reviews

  • High-quality videos and lectures
  • Interactive quizzes and assignments
  • In-depth coverage of particle physics concepts
  • Engaging and knowledgeable instructors
  • Flexible learning schedule

Cons from User Reviews

  • Some concepts may be difficult to understand for beginners
  • Limited interaction with instructors
  • Course materials can be overwhelming at times
  • No hands-on experiments or labs
  • Not suitable for those looking for a quick overview of particle physics
English
Available now
Approx. 41 hours to complete
Martin Pohl, Anna Sfyrla
University of Geneva
Coursera

Instructor

Martin Pohl

  • 4.4 Raiting
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