Search result: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2019

High-Energy Physics (Joint Master with EP Paris) Information
Core Subjects
Core Courses in Theoretical Physics
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
402-0843-00LQuantum Field Theory I
Special Students UZH must book the module PHY551 directly at UZH.
W10 credits4V + 2UN. Beisert
AbstractThis course discusses the quantisation of fields in order to introduce a coherent formalism for the combination of quantum mechanics and special relativity.
Topics include:
- Relativistic quantum mechanics
- Quantisation of bosonic and fermionic fields
- Interactions in perturbation theory
- Scattering processes and decays
- Elementary processes in QED
- Radiative corrections
ObjectiveThe goal of this course is to provide a solid introduction to the formalism, the techniques, and important physical applications of quantum field theory. Furthermore it prepares students for the advanced course in quantum field theory (Quantum Field Theory II), and for work on research projects in theoretical physics, particle physics, and condensed-matter physics.
Core Courses in Experimental Physics
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
402-0891-00LPhenomenology of Particle Physics IW10 credits3V + 2UA. Rubbia, P. Crivelli
AbstractTopics to be covered in Phenomenology of Particle Physics I:
Relativistic kinematics
Decay rates and cross sections
The Dirac equation
From the S-matrix to the Feynman rules of QED
Scattering processes in QED
Experimental tests of QED
Hadron spectroscopy
Unitary symmetries and QCD
QCD and alpha_s running
QCD in e^+e^- annihilation
Experimental tests of QCD in e^+e^- annihilation
ObjectiveIntroduction to modern particle physics
ContentTopics to be covered in Phenomenology of Particle Physics I:
Relativistic kinematics
Decay rates and cross sections
The Dirac equation
From the S-matrix to the Feynman rules of QED
Scattering processes in QED
Experimental tests of QED
Hadron spectroscopy
Unitary symmetries and QCD
QCD and alpha_s running
QCD in e^+e^- annihilation
Experimental tests of QCD in e^+e^- annihilation
LiteratureAs described in the entity: Lernmaterialien
Electives
Optional Subjects in Physics
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
402-0715-00LLow Energy Particle PhysicsW6 credits2V + 1UA. S. Antognini, P. A. Schmidt-Wellenburg
AbstractLow energy particle physics provides complementary information to high energy physics with colliders. In this lecture, we will concentrate on flagship experiments which have significantly improved our understanding of particle physics today, concentrating mainly on precision experiments with neutrons, muons and exotic atoms.
ObjectiveYou will be able to present and discuss:
- the principle of the experiments
- the underlying technique and methods
- the context and the impact of these experiments on particle physics
ContentLow energy particle physics provides complementary information to high energy physics with colliders. At the Large Hadron Collider one directly searches for new particles at energies up to the TeV range. In a complementary way, low energy particle physics indirectly probes the existence of such particles and provides constraints for "new physics", making use of high precision and high intensities.

Besides the sensitivity to effects related with new physics (e.g. lepton flavor violation, symmetry violations, CPT tests, search for electric dipole moments, new low mass exchange bosons etc.), low energy physics provides the best test of QED (electron g-2), the best tests of bound-state QED (atomic physics and exotic atoms), precise determinations of fundamental constants, information about the CKM matrix, precise information on the weak and strong force even in the non-perturbative regime etc.

Starting from a general introduction on high intensity/high precision particle physics and the main characteristics of muons and neutrons and their production, we will then focus on the discussion of fundamental problems and ground-breaking experiments:

- search for rare decays and charged lepton flavor violation
- electric dipole moments and CP violation
- spectroscopy of exotic atoms and symmetries of the standard model
- what atomic physics can do for particle physics and vice versa
- neutron decay and primordial nucleosynthesis
- atomic clock
- Penning traps
- Ramsey spectroscopy
- Spin manipulation
- neutron-matter interaction
- ultra-cold neutron production
- various techniques: detectors, cryogenics, particle beams, laser cooling....
LiteratureGolub, Richardson & Lamoreaux: "Ultra-Cold Neutrons"
Rauch & Werner: "Neutron Interferometry"
Carlile & Willis: "Experimental Neutron Scattering"
Byrne: "Neutrons, Nuclei and Matter"
Klapdor-Kleingrothaus: "Non Accelerator Particle Physics"
Prerequisites / NoticeEinführung in die Kern- und Teilchenphysik / Introduction to Nuclear- and Particle-Physics
402-0725-00LExperimental Methods and Instruments of Particle Physics Information
Special Students UZH must book the module PHY461 directly at UZH.
W6 credits3V + 1UU. Langenegger, M. Dittmar, T. Schietinger, University lecturers
AbstractPhysics and design of particle accelerators.
Basics and concepts of particle detectors.
Track- and vertex-detectors, calorimetry, particle identification.
Special applications like Cherenkov detectors, air showers, direct detection of dark matter.
Simulation methods, readout electronics, trigger and data acquisition.
Examples of key experiments.
ObjectiveAcquire an in-depth understanding and overview of the essential elements of experimental methods in particle physics, including accelerators and experiments.
Content1. Examples of modern experiments
2. Basics: Bethe-Bloch, radiation length, nucl. interaction length, fixed-target vs. collider, principles of measurements: energy- and momentum-conservation, etc
3. Physics and layout of accelerators
4. Charged particle tracking and vertexing
5. Calorimetry
6. Particle identification
7. Analysis methods: invariant and missing mass, jet algorithms, b-tagging
8. Special detectors: extended airshower detectors and cryogenic detectors
9. MC simulations (GEANT), trigger, readout, electronics
Lecture notesSlides are handed out regularly, see Link
402-0713-00LAstro-Particle Physics I Information W6 credits2V + 1UA. Biland
AbstractThis lecture gives an overview of the present research in the field of Astro-Particle Physics, including the different experimental techniques. In the first semester, main topics are the charged cosmic rays including the antimatter problem. The second semester focuses on the neutral components of the cosmic rays as well as on some aspects of Dark Matter.
ObjectiveSuccessful students know:
- experimental methods to measure cosmic ray particles over full energy range
- current knowledge about the composition of cosmic ray
- possible cosmic acceleration mechanisms
- correlation between astronomical object classes and cosmic accelerators
- information about our galaxy and cosmology gained from observations of cosmic ray
ContentFirst semester (Astro-Particle Physics I):
- definition of 'Astro-Particle Physics'
- important historical experiments
- chemical composition of the cosmic rays
- direct observations of cosmic rays
- indirect observations of cosmic rays
- 'extended air showers' and 'cosmic muons'
- 'knee' and 'ankle' in the energy spectrum
- the 'anti-matter problem' and the Big Bang
- 'cosmic accelerators'
Lecture notesSee lecture home page: Link
LiteratureSee lecture home page: Link
402-0833-00LParticle Physics in the Early UniverseW6 credits2V + 1UA. Lazopoulos
AbstractAn introduction to key concepts on the interface of Particle Physics and Early Universe cosmology. Topics include inflation and inflationary models, the ElectroWeak phase transition and vacuum stability, matter-antimatter asymmetry, recombination and the Cosmic Microwave Background, relic abundances and primordial nucleosynthesis, baryogenesis, dark matter and more.
ObjectiveThe objectives of this course is to understand the evolution of the Universe at its early stages, as described by the Standard Model of cosmology, and delve into the insights and constraints imposed by cosmological observations on possible new particles beyond those discovered at the LHC.
Prerequisites / NoticePrerequisites: Particle Physics Phenomenolgy 1 or Quantum Field Theory 1
Recommended: Quantum Field Theory 2, Advanced Field Theory, General Relativity
402-0767-00LNeutrino Physics Information W6 credits2V + 1UA. Rubbia, B. Radics
AbstractTheoretical basis and selected experiments to determine the properties of neutrinos and their interactions (mass, spin, helicity, chirality, oscillations, interactions with leptons and quarks).
ObjectiveIntroduction to the physics of neutrinos with special consideration of phenomena connected with neutrino masses.
Lecture notesScript
LiteratureB. Kayser, F. Gibrat-Debu and F. Perrier, The Physics of Massive Neutrinos, World Scientific Lecture Notes in Physic, Vol. 25, 1989, and newer publications.

N. Schmitz, Neutrinophysik, Teubner-Studienbücher Physik, 1997.

D.O. Caldwell, Current Aspects of Neutrino Physics, Springer.

C. Giunti & C.W. Kim, Fundamentals of Neutrino Physics and Astrophysics, Oxford.
402-0830-00LGeneral Relativity Information
Special Students UZH must book the module PHY511 directly at UZH.
W10 credits4V + 2UP. Jetzer
AbstractManifold, Riemannian metric, connection, curvature; Special Relativity; Lorentzian metric; Equivalence principle; Tidal force and spacetime curvature; Energy-momentum tensor, field equations, Newtonian limit; Post-Newtonian approximation; Schwarzschild solution; Mercury's perihelion precession, light deflection.
ObjectiveBasic understanding of general relativity, its mathematical foundations, and some of the interesting phenomena it predicts.
LiteratureSuggested textbooks:

C. Misner, K, Thorne and J. Wheeler: Gravitation
S. Carroll - Spacetime and Geometry: An Introduction to General
Relativity
R. Wald - General Relativity
S. Weinberg - Gravitation and Cosmology
N. Straumann - General Relativity with applications to Astrophysics
402-0898-00LThe Physics of Electroweak Symmetry Breaking Information
Does not take place this semester.
W6 credits2V + 1U
AbstractThe aim is to understand the need of physics beyond the Standard Model, the basic techniques of model building in theories BSM and the elements of collider physics required to analyze their phenomenological implications. After an introduction to the SM and alternative theories of electroweak symmetry breaking, we will investigate these issues in the context of models with warped extra dimensions.
ObjectiveAfter the course the student should have a good knowledge of some of the most relevant theories beyond the Standard Model and have the techniques to understand those theories that have not been surveyed in the course. He or she should be able to compute the constraints on any model of new physics, its successes explaining current experimental data and its main phenomenological implications at colliders.
Prerequisites / NoticeThe former title of this course unit was "The Physics Beyond the Standard Model". If you already got credits for "The Physics Beyond the Standard Model" (402-0898-00L), you cannot get credits for "The Physics of Electroweak Symmetry Breaking" (402-0898-00L).

The knowledge of basic concepts in quantum field theory is assumed.

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Weekly schedule
Tuesdays:
> 13 - 15: Class
> By 18: Hand in exercises (TA: Nicolas Deutschmann)

Thursdays:
> By 13: New exercise series (to be introduced the following day) posted

Fridays
> 12 - 13: Exercise class
402-0777-00LParticle Accelerator Physics and Modeling IW6 credits2V + 1UA. Adelmann
AbstractThis is the first of two courses, introducing particle accelerators from a theoretical point of view and covers state-of-the-art modelling techniques.
ObjectiveYou understand the building blocks of particle accelerators. Modern analysis tools allows you to model state-of-the-art particle accelerators. In some of the exercises you will be confronted with next generation machines. We will develop a Python simulation tool
(pyAcceLEGOrator) that reflects the theory from the lecture.
ContentHere is the rough plan of the topics, however the actual pace may vary relative to this plan.

- Recap of Relativistic Classical Mechanics and Electrodynamics
- Building Blocks of Particle Accelerators
- Lie Algebraic Structure of Classical Mechanics and Application to Particle Accelerators
- Symplectic Maps & Analysis of Maps
- Symplectic Particle Tracking
- Collective Effects
- Linear & Circular Accelerators
Lecture notesLecture notes
Prerequisites / NoticePhysics, Computational Science (RW) at BSc. Level

This lecture is also suited for PhD. students
402-0851-00LQCD: Theory and Experiment
Does not take place this semester.
W3 credits3GG. Dissertori, University lecturers
AbstractAn introduction to the theoretical aspects and experimental tests of QCD, with emphasis on perturbative QCD and related experiments at colliders.
ObjectiveKnowledge acquired on basics of perturbative QCD, both of theoretical and experimental nature. Ability to perform simple calculations of perturbative QCD, as well as to understand modern publications on theoretical and experimental aspects of perturbative QCD.
ContentQCD Lagrangian and Feynman Rules
QCD running coupling
Parton model
DGLAP
Basic processes
Experimental tests at lepton and hadron colliders
Measurements of the strong coupling constant
Literature1) G. Dissertori, I. Knowles, M. Schmelling : "Quantum Chromodynamics: High Energy Experiments and Theory" (The International Series of Monographs on Physics, 115, Oxford University Press)
2) R. K. Ellis, W. J. Stirling, B. R. Webber : "QCD and Collider Physics" (Cambridge Monographs on Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics & Cosmology)"
Prerequisites / NoticeWill be given as block course, language: English.
For students of both ETH and University of Zurich.
402-0897-00LIntroduction to String TheoryW6 credits2V + 1UB. Hoare
AbstractThis course is an introduction to string theory. The first half of the course covers the bosonic string and its quantization in flat space, concluding with the introduction of D-branes and T-duality. The second half will cover some advanced topics, which will be selected from those listed below.
ObjectiveThe objective of this course is to motivate the subject of string theory, exploring the important role it has played in the development of modern theoretical and mathematical physics. The goal of the first half of the course is to give a pedagogical introduction to the bosonic string in flat space. Building on this foundation, an overview of various more advanced topics will form the second half of the course.
ContentI. Introduction
II. The relativistic point particle
III. The classical closed string
IV. Quantizing the closed string
V. The open string and D-branes
VI. T-duality in flat space

Possible advanced topics include:
VII. Conformal field theory
VIII. The Polyakov path integral
IX. String interactions
X. Low energy effective actions
XI. Superstring theory
LiteratureLecture notes:

String Theory - D. Tong
Link

Lectures on String Theory - G. Arutyunov
Link

Books:

Superstring Theory - M. Green, J. Schwarz and E. Witten (two volumes, CUP, 1988)
Volume 1: Introduction
Volume 2: Loop Amplitudes, Anomalies and Phenomenology

String Theory - J. Polchinski (two volumes, CUP, 1998)
Volume 1: An Introduction to the Bosonic String
Volume 2: Superstring Theory and Beyond
Errata: Link

Basic Concepts of String Theory - R. Blumenhagen, D. Lüst and S. Theisen (Springer-Verlag, 2013)
402-0845-60LQFT Methods for Theories Beyond the Standard Model
Special Students UZH must book the module PHY573 directly at UZH.
W6 credits2V + 1UG. Isidori, J. Fuentes Martin, M. König
AbstractThis course provides a comprehensive introduction to two advanced topics in Quantum Field Theory: Effective Field Theories (EFTs) and Supersymmetry (SUSY).
Objective
ContentThis course covers the basic concepts of effective field theories (EFTs) and quantum field theories beyond the Standard Model (SM). We will start by introducing the core concept of constructing EFTs and apply them to the SM Lagrangian.

In the next part of the course, we will discuss Chiral Perturbation Theory, the low-energy effective theory of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). After this, the concept is applied to describe a class of theories beyond the SM, in which the SM fields arise as condensates of a new confining sector.

For the remainder of the course, we will focus our attention to the concept of Supersymmetry, starting from the discussion of the SUSY algebra and its representations, to arrive, after the presentation of the superspace formalism, to the construction of the supersymmetric version of gauge field theories.


Main topics:

- Introduction to Effective Field Theories
- Decoupling and matching
- Renormalization group resummation
- The Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT)
- Chiral Lagrangians
- Composite models
- The SUSY algebra
- Superspace and superfields
- Supersymmetric field theories
- Supersymmetric gauge theories
LiteratureA. Manohar, Effective field theories, Lect. Notes Phys. 479 (1997) 311 [hep-ph/9606222]
J. Wess and J. Bagger, "Supersymmetry and supergravity".
Mueller-Kirsten & Wiedemann, "Introduction to supersymmetry".
S. Weinberg, "The quantum theory of fields. Vol. 3: Supersymmetry".
Prerequisites / NoticeQFT-I (mandatory) and QFT-II (highly recommended).
Optional Subjects in Mathematics
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
401-3531-00LDifferential Geometry I Information
At most one of the three course units (Bachelor Core Courses)
401-3461-00L Functional Analysis I
401-3531-00L Differential Geometry I
401-3601-00L Probability Theory
can be recognised for the Master's degree in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics.
W10 credits4V + 1UU. Lang
AbstractIntroduction to differential geometry and differential topology. Contents: Curves, (hyper-)surfaces in R^n, geodesics, curvature, Theorema Egregium, Theorem of Gauss-Bonnet. Hyperbolic space. Differentiable manifolds, immersions and embeddings, Sard's Theorem, mapping degree and intersection number, vector bundles, vector fields and flows, differential forms, Stokes' Theorem.
Objective
Lecture notesPartial lecture notes are available from Link
LiteratureDifferential geometry in R^n:
- Manfredo P. do Carmo: Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces
- Wolfgang Kühnel: Differentialgeometrie. Kurven-Flächen-Mannigfaltigkeiten
- Christian Bär: Elementare Differentialgeometrie
Differential topology:
- Dennis Barden & Charles Thomas: An Introduction to Differential Manifolds
- Victor Guillemin & Alan Pollack: Differential Topology
- Morris W. Hirsch: Differential Topology
401-3461-00LFunctional Analysis I Information
At most one of the three course units (Bachelor Core Courses)
401-3461-00L Functional Analysis I
401-3531-00L Differential Geometry I
401-3601-00L Probability Theory
can be recognised for the Master's degree in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics.
W10 credits4V + 1UM. Struwe
AbstractBaire category; Banach and Hilbert spaces, bounded linear operators; basic principles: Uniform boundedness, open mapping/closed graph theorem, Hahn-Banach; convexity; dual spaces; weak and weak* topologies; Banach-Alaoglu; reflexive spaces; compact operators and Fredholm theory; closed range theorem; spectral theory of self-adjoint operators in Hilbert spaces.
ObjectiveAcquire a good degree of fluency with the fundamental concepts and tools belonging to the realm of linear Functional Analysis, with special emphasis on the geometric structure of Banach and Hilbert spaces, and on the basic properties of linear maps.
LiteratureWe will be using the Lecture Notes on

"Funktionalanalysis I" by Michael Struwe.

Other useful, and recommended references include the following books:

Haim Brezis: "Functional analysis, Sobolev spaces and partial differential equations". Springer, 2011.

Manfred Einsiedler and Thomas Ward: "Functional Analysis, Spectral Theory, and Applications", Graduate Text in Mathematics 276. Springer, 2017.

Peter D. Lax: "Functional analysis". Pure and Applied Mathematics (New York). Wiley-Interscience [John Wiley & Sons], New York, 2002.

Elias M. Stein and Rami Shakarchi: "Functional analysis" (volume 4 of Princeton Lectures in Analysis). Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 2011.

Walter Rudin: "Functional analysis". International Series in Pure and Applied Mathematics. McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York, second edition, 1991.

Dirk Werner, "Funktionalanalysis". Springer-Lehrbuch, 8. Auflage. Springer, 2018
Prerequisites / NoticeSolid background on the content of all Mathematics courses of the first two years of the undergraduate curriculum at ETH (most remarkably: fluency with measure theory, Lebesgue integration and L^p spaces).
Proseminars and Semester Papers
To organise a semester project take contact with one of the instructors.
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
402-0717-MSLParticle Physics at CERN Information Restricted registration - show details W9 credits18PF. Nessi-Tedaldi, W. Lustermann
AbstractDuring the semester break participating students stay for 4 weeks at CERN and perform experimental work relevant to our particle physics projects. Dates to be agreed upon.
ObjectiveStudents learn, by doing, the needed skills to perform a small particle physics experiment: setup, problem solving, data taking, analysis, interpretation and presentation in a written report of publication quality.
ContentDetailed information in: Link
Prerequisites / NoticeLanguage of instruction: English or German
402-0719-MSLParticle Physics at PSI (Paul Scherrer Institute) Restricted registration - show details W9 credits18PC. Grab
AbstractDuring semester breaks 6-12 students stay for 3 weeks at PSI and participate in a hands-on course on experimental particle physics. A small real experiment is performed in common, including apparatus design, construction, running and data analysis. The course includes some lectures, but the focus lies on the practical aspects of experimenting.
ObjectiveStudents learn all the different steps it takes to perform a complete particle physics experiment in a small team. They acquire skills to do this themselves in the team, including design, construction, data taking and data analysis.
402-0210-MSLProseminar Theoretical Physics Information Restricted registration - show details
The number of participants is limited.
W9 credits4SSupervisors
AbstractA guided self-study of original papers and of advanced textbooks in theoretical physics. Within the general topic, determined each semester, participants give a presentation on a particular subject and deliver a written report.
Objective
402-0217-MSLSemester Project in Theoretical Physics Restricted registration - show details W9 credits18ASupervisors
AbstractThis course unit is an alternative if no suitable "Proseminar Theoretical Physics" is available of if the proseminar is already overbooked.
Objective
Prerequisites / NoticeDie Leistungskontrolle erfolgt aufgrund eines oder mehrerer schriftlicher Berichte bzw. einer schriftlichen Arbeit. Vorträge können ein zusätzlicher Bestandteil der Leistungskontrolle sein.
402-0740-00LExperimental Foundations of Particle PhysicsW8 credits3SM. Backhaus, M. Donegà
AbstractThe Standard Model of particle physics is a monumental achievement of human ingenuity. While typically approached from the theoretical side, in this proseminar we will collect the experimental evidence upon which the Standard Model has been built.
ObjectiveThis course integrates knowledge of all detector components (tracking, calorimetry, trigger) in discussing the experiments as a whole.
It is meant to be complementary to the "Experimental Methods" course 402-0725-00L which introduces different detector technologies.
It also augments the particle physics master curriculum and is meant to be followed in parallel to PPP I (402-0891-00L) or PPP II (402-0702-00L).
ContentThe course will not follow the historical trajectory of experimental particle physics. It will instead try to give a modern view of the results of the experiments and show where they fit in the theoretical construction.

The students will read the original papers collected in the seminal text by Cahn and Goldhaber. The theory will be distilled to the very basics using the textbook by Bettini.

Introductory material:
- Review of basic relativistic kinematics (Lorentz transformations, invariant mass, etc..)
- Passage of particles through matter: Bethe Bloch dE/dx, bremsstrahlung, photon interactions, electromagnetic showers, hadronic showers, Cherenkov radiation, Transition Radiation

Experimental papers discussed in the course:
- Deep Inelastic scattering
- J/psi and tau discovery
- strong interaction: gluons and jets (anti-k_t jet clustering)
- parity violation, neutrino observation, neutrino helicity
- neutral current, W/Z discovery
- number of neutrino families, muon pair production asymmetry, W+W- production
- top/bottom discoveries
- Higgs discovery and properties
- CP violation in the kaon system
- Neutrino oscillations

The course is completed with in class detector demonstrations:
- cloud chamber
- cosmics rays with plastic scintillators
- cerenkov light in water
- silicon detectors
LiteratureCahn, Goldhaber "Experimental Foundations of Particle Physics" (2nd edition), Cambridge University Press
Bettini, “Introduction to Elementary Particle Physics” Cambridge University Press
Prerequisites / NoticeRecommended: Phenomenology of Particle Physics I (or II) (in parallel)
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