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Theory of elementary particles and nuclei

2025/2026
Programme:
Physics, Second Cycle
Orientation:
Meteorology
Year:
2 year
Semester:
first
Kind:
optional
ECTS:
7
Language:
slovenian
Lecturer (contact person):
Hours per week – 1. semester:
Lectures
3
Seminar
1
Tutorial
0
Lab
0
Prerequisites

Enrollment into the program.
Positive result from qoloqia (or written exam) is necessary to enter the oral exam.

Content (Syllabus outline)

Models of hadrons.
Chiral symmetry of strong interactions; Goldstonev theorem; chiral symmetric models (sigma model, SU (3) _L x SU (3) _R non-linear model).
Heavy quarks and their symmetry.

Quantum chromodynamics (QCD): SU (3) gauge theory of strong interaction; strong coupling constant; Feynman rules for QCD; renormalization group for QCD; QCD and deep inelastic scattering of leptons in hadronic targets. Partonsi model; structure functions and scaling; violation of scaling and Altarelli Parisi equation. Gluons in QCD. QCD corrections in e + e-annihilation.
Glashow - Weinberg - Salamova theory of electroweak interactions
From Fermi theory of weak interactions to theory of intermediate gauge boson. The universality of the weak interaction.
Electroweak interaction: gauge theory of the electroweak interaction; spontaneous breaking of the global and local symmetries; Higgs mechanism in the Standard Model. Electroweak interaction and quarks. Masses Z0 and W +, -, and Weinberg.
Masses of leptons and quarks, generations mixing of quarks and the CKM matrix parameterisation.
Feynman rules for elektrosibko interaction.
Interactions of leptons in the standard model. oscillations
neutrinos; neutrino masses: Dirac and Majorana mass.

Weak decays of hadrons: the dynamics of meson decays; properties of hadronic currents.
Neutral currents. Unitarnost CKM matrix.
These symmetries C, P, T in the weak interaction. Description meson decays (leptonski, semileptonic, nonleptonic decays); the effective Hamiltonian density for nonleptonic meson decays. Neperturbativne methods in meson physics.
GIM mechanism.
Violation of CP symmetry.
e + e-annihilation. Z0 production in e + e-annihilation. Number of light neutrinos. Decays of Z0. Discovery of Higgs boson and Higgs boson properties
t quark physics.

Upgrades of the standard model.

Readings

- Elementary Particles and Their Interactions, Concepts and Phenomena
Quang Ho-Kim and Pham Xuan Yem, Springer 1998.

- Dynamics of the Standard Model, J. F. Donoghue, E. Golowich
and B. Holstein, Cambridge Monographs on Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics
and Cosmology, Cambridge Univ. Press (1992).

- T.-P. Cheng, L.F. Li,
Gauge Theory of elementary particle physics,
Oxford University Press (1992).

Objectives and competences

Objectives:
Students learn about the basics features of the theory of elementary particles, and theories useful in nuclear physics
gauge interactions .
Competences:
knowledge of field theory principles, quantization methods and gauge theories principles.

Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding:
Knowledge of basic tyheoretical tools in elementary particle physics, theory of geravity and comology.

Application: The achieved knowledge enables student to solve all problems within field of elementary particle theory and particle phenomenology.

Reflection:
Critical evalvation of all theoretical approaches within relativistic and quantum physics.

Transferable skills:

Ability to understand physical problems present in experiments in particle physics and physics of nuclei.

Learning and teaching methods

Lectures, exercises, seminars, homework, consultations

Assessment

Seminar or written exam
Oral exam
5 - 10, a student passes the exam if he is graded from 6 to 10

Lecturer's references

Jernej Fesel Kamenik:

 •  Svjetlana Fajfer, Jernej F. Kamenik, Ivan Nisandzic, Jure Zupan “Implications of Lepton Flavor Universality Violations in B Decays”,
Phys.Rev.Lett. 109 (2012) 161801.
 •  Ilja Dorsner, Svjetlana Fajfer, Admir Greljo, Jernej F. Kamenik, Nejc Kosnik “Physics of leptoquarks in precision experiments and at particle colliders”, Phys.Rept. 641 (2016), 1-68.
 •  Darius A. Faroughy, Admir Greljo, Jernej F. Kamenik, "Confronting lepton flavor universality violation in B decays with high-pT tau lepton searches at LHC", Phys.Lett.B 764 (2017), 126-134.