Flavour Physics and CP Violation

3 EC

Semester 2, period 4

53548CPV3Y

Owner Master Physics and Astronomy (joint degree)
Coordinator prof. dr. R. Fleischer
Part of Master Physics and Astronomy, track Theoretical Physics, year 1Master Physics and Astronomy, track GRAPPA, year 1

Course manual 2017/2018

Course content

Symmetries and their violation play an outstanding role in particle physics. A key example is CP violation, where C and P denote the charge-conjugation and parity transformations, respectively. In the Standard Model, this phenomenon is closely connected with the quark-flavour sector, which is still a big mystery. A particularly interesting laboratory to explore CP violation and ``quark-flavour mixing" is given by B mesons, which are composed of a heavy b quark and a light anti-quark. After a general introduction and motivation, we shall discuss the quark-flavour sector of the Standard Model, classify B-meson decays, introduce the theoretical tools to deal with them (such as low-energy effective Hamiltonians), investigate the requirements for non-vanishing CP-violating asymmetries, and discuss the most important benchmark decays, which include some of the rarest processes Nature has to offer. We will also confront theory with experiment by addressing the picture emerging from the most recent data of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN.

Study materials

Other

  • See: http://arXiv.org/abs/arXiv:0802.2882

Objectives

This course will give a detailed discussion of the quark-flavour sector of the Standard Model and the theoretical framework to describe CP-violating phenomena and rare decays. The students will encounter calculations of specific meson decays and of low-energy effective Hamiltonians, including a discussion of QCD corrections. The main objective is that the students should after the course be in a position to understand the main challenges in quark-flavour physics, should be able to write down the Feynman diagrams for any given meson decay and should be able to calculate general expressions for the corresponding transitions amplitudes and observables.

Teaching methods

  • Lecture
  • Tutorial

The lecture is complemented by tutorials, which take place right after the lectures, to deepen the understanding of the topics discussed in the lecture. 

Learning activities

Activity

Number of hours

Hoorcollege

12

Tentamen

4

Werkcollege

12

Zelfstudie

56

Attendance

Requirements concerning attendance (OER-B).

  • In addition to, or instead of, classes in the form of lectures, the elements of the master’s examination programme often include a practical component as defined in article 1.2 of part A. The course catalogue contains information on the types of classes in each part of the programme. Attendance during practical components is mandatory.

    • Assessment

    Item and weight Details

    Final grade

    1 (100%)

    Tentamen

    Oral or written (depending on the number of participants)

    Inspection of assessed work

    The date, time and location of the inspection moment are in the DataNose timetable.

    Fraud and plagiarism

    The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

    Course structure

    Weeknummer Onderwerpen Studiestof
    1 Introduction, Symmetries, Standard Model, Leptonic B-Meson Decays.  
    2  Semi-leptonic and Non-leptonic B-Meson Decays, Low-Energy Effective Hamiltonians, CP Asymmetries, Amplitude Relations.  
    3  Impact of New Physics, CP Violation in Neutral B-Meson Decays, Rare B-Meson Decays, Contact with the Forefront of Research.  
    4  Exam.  
    5    
    6    
    7    
    8    

    Timetable

    The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

    Additional information

    Location: Nikhef.

    Prior knowledge: this course requires elementary familiarity with Particle Physics and Quantum Field Theory at a basic level. 

    Contact information

    Coordinator

    • prof. dr. R. Fleischer

    Teaching assistant: Ruben Jaarsma, MSc.