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Recall from last lecture:

The marriage of quantum mechanics with special relativity leads to quantum field theory.

The sources for particles are cosmic rays and accelerators.

We use high energies to achieve the best spatial resolution and to create massive particles.

Units in Particle Physics

It is convenient to work in units appropriate to the problem at hand. In particle physics it is convenient to work in units in which hbar = c = 1. Additionally, setting e₀ = m₀ = 1, we have Heaviside-Lorentz units. In these units, the fine structure constant (from quantum mechanics applied to the hydrogen atom) is given by

We still have one more unit to choose, the unit of mass. Masses in particle physics are normally expressed in MeV (millions of electron volts) or GeV (billions of electron volts). The proton mass is 938MeV, and the electron mass is 0.511MeV.

Relativistic Transformations

We will normally deal with processes where at least some particles are moving at speeds close to the speed of light. In such situations, the rules of special relativity must be followed in order that the process be independent of the reference frame.

In relativity, space and time are united in a 4-dimensional space-time. A vector, must now be a 4-component space-time vector, a 4-vector, rather than a 3-component spatial vector. The first vector I will introduce is the momentum vector:

As for 3-vectors, the dot product of a 4-vector with itself is a scalar quantity, invariant under rotations and translations of the coordinate system. In special relativity, the dot product (or scalar product) of any two 4-vectors measured in any inertial reference frame is invariant.

The dot product of p with itself is defined as:

To transform p to another reference frame (the primed frame, with quantities indicated with a prime) moving with velocity v_x = bc with respect to the original, we use the Lorentz transformation:

We use the momentum vector to describe the direction and momentum of particles in scattering and decay events. In these cases, it is sometimes helpful to transform between frames, for instance from the laboratory frame to the center of mass frame, and back. Another 4-vector that is used is the space-time vector:

Fixed-target and Colliding Beam Accelerators

As a first example of the use of the Lorentz transformation and dot product for 4-vectors, let's consider the energy available for particle creation in two common experimental arrangements.

The fixed target arrangement is the easiest to conceive and was the first to be used. A high energy beam of particles is made to impact on a target at rest in the laboratory, a thin foil, wire, or other solid, liquid, or gas. In a fixed target experiment, a wide variety of nuclei can be used as targets. The experimental apparatus is placed behind the target to catch the debris that emerges.

The colliding beam arrangement is harder to conceive and came later. It consists of two beams of particles that are made to collide, usually head on. The experimental apparatus is built around the point of collision. It is common for one beam to consist of the anti-particle of the other, and that they are counter-rotating with the same energy (symmetric collisions).

Let us say that the incoming beam consists of particles of mass m_a, total energy E_a, and momentum p_a. Of course these 3 quantities satisfy the relation m_a² = E_a² - p_a². Let the target consist of particles of mass m_b, total energy E_b, and momentum p_b, that satisfy a relation as above.

Our system consists of a particle of the incoming beam colliding with a particle of the target. The total 4-momentum of the system is p = p_a + p_b. The square of the 4-momentum is an invariant quantity given by:

In a fixed target configuration the target particle is at rest in the lab frame such that p_b = 0 and E_b = m_b. Then the (square of) energy available in the collision is:

Suppose we have a colliding beam configuration with particle and anti-particle colliding with equal energy. In this case