The Top Quark and other
Recent Discoveries
in Particle Physics
PY482
spring 1999
Prof. Meenakshi Narain
Since 1974 experiments in high energy
physics have searched for the top quark, the heaviest constituent of matter
predicted to exist by the Standard Model of particle physics. The Standard
Model describes the most fundamental constituents of matter which we know
today, and their interactions. In 1995, experiments at Fermi National
Accelerator Lab, near Chicago, were finally able to detect the top quark
in high energy collisions of protons and anti-protons. Its mass turned
out to be as large as 174 GeV, approximately the same as that of
the gold atom!
PY482 will discuss the discovery
of the top quark in its theoretical and experimental context. During the
course, students will have the opportunity to analyze data from the
D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron, including decays of W bosons, Z
bosons, and top quarks.
- The Standard Model: The
course will begin with an introduction to the fundamental particles and
forces. We will discuss the role of the top quark within this model and
why we expected it to exist.
- Accelerators: To
study the fundamental constituents of matter, very high energies are needed.
We will discuss particle accelerators using the example of the Fermilab
Tevatron, which is currently the highest energy accelerator in the world.
- Detectors:
To record the particles produced in high energy collisions, very large
and complex detectors are needed. Using the D0 and CDF detectors at Fermilab
as examples we will discuss the techniques used to detect these particles.
- Discovery of the W and Z bosons:
The discovery of these particles confirmed predictions of the Standard
Model. We will learn what the signatures of these particles are and how
to measure their mass.
- Discovery of the top quark:
We will discuss the history of the search for and the discovery of the
top quark. In this part of the course, we will also learn about the importance
of statistical data analysis techniques in the search and discovery of
fundamental particles.
- Measurement of the properties
of the top quark: This part of the course
will introduce the experimental techniques used to measure the mass and
other properties of the top quark.