Fascinating Particle Physics Quarks, Neutrinos, the Higgs Boson and the Riddles of the Universe

This book bridges the gap between the known facts about the microcosmic world and the many open questions about the fundamental structure of matter and the Universe. Even if you don’t have much of a math background but would like to delve deeper into the subject, this is the book for you. It’s worth getting to know more about particle physics!
Rolf-Dieter Heuer, CERN Director General 2009 - 2015

Quarks, neutrinos, supersymmetry, Higgs boson, LHC, antimatter, dark matter – who wouldn’t like to know more about them?

This book provides an engaging overview of exciting topics in particle physics. It combines fascinating facts with a mix of vivid images and educational text, carefully arranged so that each topic is thoroughly explored within a self-contained double-page spread. The book covers both experiments and discoveries, as well as theoretical concepts and methods. You'll learn how particle accelerators work, appreciate the beauty behind the theories of particle physics, and discover how the history and structure of the Universe are intricately connected to the properties of elementary particles and forces. Step by step, you'll also learn how to extract relevant information from vast amounts of data.

Join us on a journey of discovery from the foundations of modern particle physics through exciting developments in basic research to applications that are indispensable in our daily lives.

Preface.- About This Book.- 1 What is Particle Physics?.- 2 Fundamental Principles.- 3 Experimental Basics.- 4 Basic Theoretical Concepts.- 5 Accelerators and Detectors.- 6 Recording and Analyzing Data.- 7 The Electroweak Standard Model of Particle Physics.- 8 The Peculiar Strong Interaction.- 9 Incredible Success and Yet Possible Failure of the Standard Model.- 10 Limitations of the Standard Model.- 11 Searches for Physics Beyond the Standard Model.- 12 Connecting the Smallest to the Largest Scales in the Universe.- Is It All Worth it?.- Acknowledgements.- Properties of Elementary Particles.- Glossary.- Image Credits.- Index.- The Team of Authors.

Philip Bechtle is an experimental particle physicist and teaches at the University of Bonn in Germany.

Florian Bernlochner is a professor of experimental particle physics at the University of Bonn.

Herbi Dreiner is a professor in the field of theoretical particle physics at the University of Bonn.

Christoph Hanhart is working in the field of theoretical nuclear and particle physics at the Jülich Research Centre in Germany and as a professor at the University of Bonn.

Josef Jochum is a professor of experimental particle physics at the University of Tübingen in Germany.

Jörg Pretz is a professor of experimental physics at the RWTH Aachen University in Germany and a researcher at the Jülich Research Centre.

Kristin Riebe is an astrophysicist at the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam in Germany and a successful graphics designer who has given this book its special structure.