awesome-particle-physics-for-non-physicists

Particle physics is the branch of physics that studies the nature of the particles that constitute matter and radiation. Although the word "particle" can refer to various types of very small objects, "particle physics" usually investigates the irreducibly smallest detectable particles and the fundamental interactions necessary to explain their behaviour.

This is a curated list of introductory resources to fundamental concepts in particle physics including the Standard Model, QED, QCD, Jets, Colliders, and Detectors. The idea is to learn these concepts with no background knowledge necessary (for the most part)!

For the ones interested in a more thorough understanding, it is recommended you go through the background reading in Probability and Statistics before venturing into the links marked with a :warning: sign.

Awesome list criteria

1. The list includes videos (preferred), slides, notes, and other materials.
2. Ensure that the links to videos, talks, and slides are publicly accessible.
3. Add a descriptive title for the link, and place it under the appropriate category.
4. For multiple related resources that may not necessarily link to each other, please add all the links separately in a part-by-part order.
5. If you are unable to categorise the resources, please leave them under Miscellaneous
6. Adding resources on advanced subjects is encouraged, but do ensure the other resources present on the list cover the prerequisites for such topics - feel free to add those yourself.
7. Please add a :warning: warning against all advanced/theoretical resources for easier browsing.

Contents

• Introduction / Overview
• Probability and Statistics
• Quantum Electrodynamics (QED)
• Standard Model and Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD)
• Jets
• Colliders
• Monte-Carlo Techniques
• Detector Technologies
• Miscellaneous
• Background Reading

Introduction / Overview

Prof. Frank Close's Lectures

• Introduction to Particle Physics (1/4)

• Introduction to Particle Physics (2/4)

• Introduction to Particle Physics (3/4)

• Introduction to Particle Physics (4/4)

• :warning: Playlist: Particle Physics by 'DrPhysicsA'

• Blog: What's a Proton

• Blog: What's a Hadron

• Blog: Proton Collisions

• Blog: Introduction to the LHC

• Blog: What is Supersymmetry (Series)

Probability and Statistics

• Probability and Statistics in Particle Physics by Frodesen, Skjeggestad, and Tofte, an exceptional book, unfortunately it is out of print, but it can be found in many libraries.
• Statistics for Nuclear and Particle Physicists by Louis Lyons
• :warning: Statistical Data Analysis by Glen Cowan book
• :warning: Statistical Data Analysis by Glen Cowan course page
• :warning: Statistical Methods for Data Analysis by Luca Lista course page

Quantum Electrodynamics

• Fermilab: Quantum Electrodynamics Theory

• Fermilab: QED - Experimental Evidence

• From Cbits to Qbits: Teaching computer scientists quantum mechanics

• Fermilab: Quantum Field Theory

• :warning: Quantum Field Theory Lectures by Sidney R. Coleman

:warning: Prof. Richard Feynman's Lectures

• Photons - Corpuscles of Light (1/4)
• Fits of Reflection and Transmission - Quantum Behaviour (2/4)
• Electrons and their Interactions (3/4)
• Lecture 4/4 is a multi-part series in and of itself:
• Problems in QED and the Standard Model Part 1/7 (4/4)
• Problems in QED and the Standard Model Part 2/7 (4/4)
• Problems in QED and the Standard Model Part 3/7 (4/4)
• Problems in QED and the Standard Model Part 4/7 (4/4)
• Problems in QED and the Standard Model Part 5/7 (4/4)
• Problems in QED and the Standard Model Part 6/7 (4/4)
• Problems in QED and the Standard Model Part 7/7 (4/4)

Standard Model and Quantum Chromodynamics

• SM Physics at the LHC (1/4)

• SM Physics at the LHC (2/4)

• SM Physics at the LHC (3/4)

• SM Physics at the LHC (4/4)

• Fermilab: Quantum Chromodynamics

• Fermilab: Quantum Color

Jets

• :warning: "What is a Jet?"

• Playlist: Jets at Hadron Colliders (3 lecture series)

• Blog: Jets

• Blog: Jets at CMS

• Blog: What is Tagging?

• :warning: Jet Physics Slides - Prof. M. Schwartz

Colliders

• :warning: Collider Physics from the Bottom Up (1/2)
• :warning: Collider Physics from the Bottom Up (2/2)

Monte-Carlo Techniques

• Introduction to Monte-Carlo Techniques (1/2)
• Introduction to Monte-Carlo Techniques (2/2)

Detector Technologies

• Detectors (1/5)

• Detectors (2/5)

• Detectors (3/5)

• Detectors (4/5)

• Detectors (5/5)

• Simulation of Particles Within a Detector (1/2)

• Simulation of Particles Within a Detector (2/2)

Miscellaneous / Advanced

• :warning:Galileo Galelei Summer School on Theoretical Physics (Lectures on the Early Universe, Lattice Gauge Theory, Effective Field Theories, Flavor Physics, Dark Matter, QCD & Collider Physics)

Background Reading

• Introduction to Quantum Mechanics by David J. Griffiths
• :warning: Modern Quantum Mechanics by J. J. Sakurai
• Introduction to Elementary Particles by David J. Griffiths
• Modern Elementary Particle Physics by Gordon L. Kane

Need More?

• For more resources on particle physics as well as deep learning with a focus on physics, look up the resources available on the CERN Document Server.

• Also for more blog posts, check out this blog - Of Particular Significance - by Prof. Matt Strassler.

:bulb: Helpful Tip for Beginners:

• Refer to Academic Training or Summer Student Lectures since they assume very little pre-existing knowledge.

• Try reading up a few articles on Prof. Strassler's Blog before/after watching video lectures - this approach seems to be pretty helpful in nailing down most concepts.