From Photons To Higgs: A Story Of Light (2nd Edition) A Story of Light

This book presents a brief introduction to the quantum field theory of the Standard Model for quarks and leptons. With minimal use of mathematics, it covers the basics of quantum field theory, local gauge field theory, spontaneous symmetry breaking mechanism, the Higgs mechanism and quantum chromodynamics. From the time when the first edition was published until today, the field of particle physics has seen some major break-through with the possible discovery of Higgs particle, also known as the Higgs boson. In the second edition, the famous Higgs mechanism is included to explain the symmetry breaking in the Standard Model and the origin of mass, and all of this is explained in high-school level algebra. Aimed at both scientists and non-specialists, it requires only some rudimentary knowledge of the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulation of Newtonian mechanics as well as a basic understanding of the special theory of relativity and quantum mechanics to enjoy this book. Readership: Students, researchers, academics and non-specialists interested in quantum field theory. This book presents a brief introduction to the quantum field theory of the Standard Model for quarks and leptons. With minimal use of mathematics, it covers the basics of quantum field theory, local gauge field theory, spontaneous symmetry breaking mechanism, the Higgs mechanism and quantum chromodynamics. From the time when the first edition was published until today, the field of particle physics has seen some major break-through with the possible discovery of Higgs particle, also known as the Higgs boson. In the second edition, the famous Higgs mechanism is included to explain the symmetry breaking in the Standard Model and the origin of mass, and all of this is explained in high-school level algebra. Aimed at both scientists and non-specialists, it requires only some rudimentary knowledge of the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulation of Newtonian mechanics as well as a basic understanding of the special theory of relativity and quantum mechanics to enjoy this book. Particles and fields I: Dichotomy -- Lagangian and Hamiltonian dynamics -- Canonical quantization -- Particles and fields II: Duality -- Equations for duality -- Electromagnetic field -- Emulation of light I: Matter fields -- Road map for field quantization -- Particles and fields III: Particles as quanta of fields -- Emulation of light II: Interactions -- Triumph and wane -- Leptons and quarks -- What is gauge field theory? -- The weak gauge fields -- The Higgs mechanism and the electroweak gauge fields -- The Higgs particle -- Evolution of the strong force -- The history of color SU(3) symmetry -- Quantum chromodynamics, QCD -- Appendix 1: The natural unit system -- Appendix 2: Notation -- Appendix 3: Velocity-dependent potential -- Appendix 4: Fourier decomposition of field -- Appendix 5: Mass units for particles -- Appendix 6. Mass-range relation. Moo-Young Han, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Korea, Duke University, USA. Revision of: A story of light. 2004. Includes index. Includes bibliographical references and index. Contents 14 Acknowledgments 8 Foreword to the Second Edition 10 Prologue 16 1. Particles and Fields I: Dichotomy 20 2. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Dynamics 25 3. Canonical Quantization 32 4. Particles and Fields II: Duality 37 5. Equations for Duality 41 The Schrodinger’s Equation 41 The Klein–Gordon Equation 43 The Dirac Equation 44 6. Electromagnetic Field 49 7. Emulation of Light I: Matter Fields 52 8. Road Map for Field Quantization 56 9. Particles and Fields III: Particles as Quanta of Fields 62 10. Emulation of Light II: Interactions 70 11. Triumph and Wane 76 12. Leptons and Quarks 82 13. What is Gauge Field Theory? 90 14. The Weak Gauge Fields 96 15. The Higgs Mechanism and the Electroweak Gauge Fields 102 16. The Higgs Particle 109 17. Evolution of the Strong Force 112 18. The History of Color SU(3) Symmetry 117 19. Quantum Chromodynamics, QCD 122 Appendix 1: The Natural Unit System 126 Appendix 2: Notation 128 Appendix 3: Velocity-Dependent Potential 130 Appendix 4: Fourier Decomposition of Field 133 Appendix 5: Mass Units for Particles 135 Appendix 6: Mass-Range Relation 137 Index 139 This book presents a brief introduction to the quantum field theory of the Standard Model for quarks and leptons. With minimal use of mathematics, it covers the basics of quantum field theory, local gauge field theory, spontaneous. symmetry breaking mechanism, the Higgs mechanism and quantum chromodynamics. From the time when the first edition was published until today, the field of particle physics has seen some major breakthroughs with the possible discovery of Higgs particle, also known as the Higgs boson. In the second edition, the famous Higgs mechanism is included to explain the symmetry breaking in the Standard Model and the origin of mass, and all of this is explained in high-school level algebra. Aimed at both scientists and non-specialists, it requires only some rudimentary knowledge of the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulation of Newtonian mechanics as well as a basic understanding of the special theory of relativity and quantum mechanics to enjoy this book. Book jacket