The Large Hadron Collider and The Physics of Elementary Particles

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN on the Swiss-French border is designed to search for new physics, a term primarily applied to the appearance of symmetries in nature. Physics, as all sciences do, advances with theories and experiments working together. In particle physics experiments have become so large and expensive that theories have developed ahead of the ability to verify them experimentally. The construction of the LHC is designed to help remedy this.

Prof. Wolfe discusses the history of particle physics, from the discovery of the electron and the nucleus to the plethora of new particles created by the construction of particle accelerators. He considers the ways that these machines are used to detect the properties of particles they create. Finally, he looks at symmetries and the possible existence of the Higgs-Boson (the discovery of which may be announced by 2012), the reason for the mass in the Universe, super symmetric particles, quantum gravity, dark matter and dark energy, and things we have not yet even dreamt of. Perhaps even a ‘Theory of Everything’.

LECTURE TITLES
1. Fundamental particles, protons, neutrons, electons, quarks (part 1)
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2. Fundamental particles, protons, neutrons, electons, quarks (part 2)
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3. The machines that make the experiments possible
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4. Large Hadron Collider – search for the Higgs-Boson
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5. Theories of Everything (TOEs) and the future
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Recommended Reading
Sample, I. 2010. Massive. New York: Basic Books.
Davies, P.C.W. & Brown, J. (eds). 1988. Superstrings, a theory of everything. Cambridge, New York: Cambridge University Press.
Pais, A. 1986. Inward Bound. Oxford: Clarendon Press, New York, Oxford.
Ne’Eman,Y. & Kirsh, Y. 1986. The Particle Hunters. Cambridge, New York: Cambridge University Press.