FALL 2007 HONORS COURSES

HONR 239Y Elementary Particles for Poets
Tuesday/Thursday, 11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Dr. O. W. Greenberg, Department of Physics

Since the time of the ancient Greeks people have tried to understand what the basic constituents of matter are. This seminar traces the development of our knowledge of elementary particles from 1895 when Roentgen discovered x-rays to the present when searches are underway for the Higgs meson, supersymmetric partners of the known particles, the particles that may make up “dark matter” and the particles that may make up “dark energy.”

We will consider the dependence of scientific progress on disparate approaches: (i) improved technical means of studying nature, i.e. of better instruments, (ii) incisive experimental studies, (iii) new theoretical concepts, and (iv) mathematical ideas. We will also point out the roles of unmotivated curiosity and of accidents.

The seminar will include mini-biographies of the scientists who made the seminal discoveries and discussion of the evolution of the intellectual climate in which the discoveries were made.

Grades will be based on class participation and a term paper written on a topic chosen in consultation with the instructor. After the term paper has been reviewed by the instructor each student also will present the topic in class.

Reading List:
Facts and Mysteries in Elementary Particle Physics, Martinus Veltman,
(World Scientific, Singapore, 2003), ISBN 981-238-149-X (pbk.)

The Discovery of Subatomic Particles, Revised Edition, Steven Weinberg,
(Cambridge, Cambridge, 2003), ISBN 0 521 82351 X hardback

CORE: Physical Sciences, non-lab [PS]