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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Physics and Astronomy : Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy)

Undergraduate Course: Current Topics in Particle Physics (PHYS11063)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Physics and Astronomy CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Year 5 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThis second semester course provides an introduction to a range of current topics in particle physics. The course follows on from the introduction to particle physics in the core course on Relativity, Nuclear & Particle Physics, and can be taken as an option by both BSc and MPhys students. It is intended to be complementary to the more formal course on Particle Physics taught in the Semester 1.
Course description This course provides an introduction to current topics in particle physics. The treatment is flexible and covers a wide range of experimental aspects of particle physics at a level appropriate for a final year undergraduate student. The course follows on from the introduction to particle physics in the core course on Relativity, Nuclear & Particle Physics, and can be taken as an option by both BSc and MPhys students. It is intended to complement the more formal course on Particle Physics taught in the first semester.

Topics that covered may include:
- Low energy precision tests of the Standard Model (EDM, g-2, lepton flavour violation)
- Hadron spectroscopy including exotic states
- CP violation in heavy flavour decays
- Neutrino oscillation experiments
- Top quark production and decay
- Beyond the Standard Model & Searches for New Physics at the LHC
- Dark Matter & Dark Energy
- High energy astroparticle physics including gravitational waves
- Future Colliders (ILC, FCC)
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Relativity, Nuclear and Particle Physics (PHYS10096) OR Nuclear and Particle Physics (PHYS10106)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  30
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 20, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 66 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 50 %, Coursework 50 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 20 % oral assignment, 30 % project report, 50 % exam
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)Current Topics in Particle Physics S2 Exam2:120
Resit Exam Diet (August)Current Topics in Particle Physics Resit Exam2:120
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Describe current research activities in particle physics.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of the design of current experiments.
  3. Understand open issues in the theoretical description of particle physics.
  4. Locate and make use of detailed information on particle physics in the primary research literature.
  5. Summarise current topics in particle physics in a variety of forms, both alone and in collaboration with others.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Apply critical analysis, and evaluation to current development in particle physics.
Critically review, consolidate and extend knowledge, skills, practices and thinking in the subject.
Communicate with peers, more senior colleagues and specialists via written report and oral presentation.
Work in a peer relationship with specialist practitioners.
KeywordsCTiPP,Particle Physics,neutrinos,CP violation,colliders
Contacts
Course organiserDr Mark Williams
Tel:
Email: M.Williams@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Alexis Heeren
Tel:
Email: Alexis.Heeren@ed.ac.uk
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