The Particle Zoo: Exploring the Subatomic Menagerie

The Particle Zoo: Exploring the Subatomic Menagerie
Author: Carrie J. Rivers
Publisher: Gavin Jay Maureemootoo
Total Pages: 114
Release: 2024-10-24
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN:

The Particle Zoo: Exploring the Subatomic Menagerie takes readers on a fascinating journey through the realm of particle physics, uncovering the secrets and mysteries of the subatomic world. Starting with an Introduction to Particle Physics, the book provides a comprehensive overview of this intriguing field, including its historical background and its significance in understanding the universe. Readers will gain a strong foundation in particle classification and interactions, as they explore elementary particles, their properties, and fundamental forces. The book also delves into Quantum Field Theory, offering insights into the mathematical framework that underpins particle physics. With Chapter 3, The Standard Model of Particle Physics, readers will discover the building blocks of matter and delve into the fundamental forces described within this model. The intriguing concept of the Higgs Mechanism and its role in particle mass is also explored, shedding light on one of the most significant discoveries in modern physics. Chapter 4, Experiments and Particle Accelerators, takes readers into the world of particle detection and experimental techniques. From the groundbreaking discoveries made at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to other particle accelerators, this chapter highlights the scientific breakthroughs that have shaped our understanding of the subatomic world. In Chapter 5, Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), readers will explore the fascinating realm of quarks and gluons. The concepts of confinement and asymptotic freedom are explained, providing a deeper understanding of strong interactions and hadron physics. Moving on to Chapter 6, Electroweak Theory and the Higgs Boson, readers will delve into the unification of electromagnetism and weak interactions. The discovery of the Higgs Boson, often referred to as the "God particle," is also explored, showcasing the incredible advancements and technological achievements of modern particle physics. Chapter 7 delves into the captivating world of neutrinos and neutrino oscillations. Properties of neutrinos, their masses, and oscillation phenomena are explored, along with the experiments and phenomenology that have led to groundbreaking discoveries in this field. Chapter 8 pushes the boundaries of the known, delving into the realm of Beyond the Standard Model physics. Readers will learn about Grand Unified Theories (GUTs), supersymmetry, and the fascinating concepts of dark matter and dark energy. With Chapter 9, the focus shifts to Cosmic Rays and Astrophysical Particles. High-energy astrophysics, cosmic ray physics, and the study of neutrinos and gamma rays from space are all explored, providing readers with a broader understanding of the interactions between particles and the cosmos. Finally, Chapter 10 offers a glimpse into the future of particle physics. Unsolved mysteries, open questions, and the potential for new particle discoveries are discussed, along with the exciting possibilities that lie ahead with future particle colliders and experiments. The Particle Zoo: Exploring the Subatomic Menagerie is a captivating and comprehensive guide that will satisfy the curiosity of both novice enthusiasts and seasoned physicists. With its engaging narrative and detailed exploration of the fundamental concepts in particle physics, this book is a must-have for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the subatomic world.

Active Galactic Nuclei

Active Galactic Nuclei
Author: Francoise Combes
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 324
Release: 2022-09-21
Genre: Science
ISBN: 178945087X

All galaxies host a super-massive black hole in their center. These black holes grow their mass in symbiosis with their host galaxy and moderate their star formation. When matter is driven towards the nucleus, an accretion disk is formed to transfer angular momentum and considerable energy is released when the material falls into the black hole: this is the phenomenon of active galactic nuclei (AGN). A nucleus can shine one thousand times more brightly than the entire galaxy with its 200 billion stars. The nuclear activity can take many forms, from very powerful quasars to more ordinary Seyfert galaxies, passing by radio-galaxies, which eject a collimated plasma at ten times the radius of the galaxy. This book examines all of these manifestations and presents a unified view. When two galaxies merge, a binary black hole is formed and the two black holes will spiral inwards and merge, emitting long gravitational waves, which could be detected by the future LISA satellite.

Cosmic Rays at Earth

Cosmic Rays at Earth
Author: P.K.F. Grieder
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 1117
Release: 2001-07-27
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0080530052

In 1912 Victor Franz Hess made the revolutionary discovery that ionizing radiation is incident upon the Earth from outer space. He showed with ground-based and balloon-borne detectors that the intensity of the radiation did not change significantly between day and night. Consequently, the sun could not be regarded as the sources of this radiation and the question of its origin remained unanswered. Today, almost one hundred years later the question of the origin of the cosmic radiation still remains a mystery.Hess' discovery has given an enormous impetus to large areas of science, in particular to physics, and has played a major role in the formation of our current understanding of universal evolution. For example, the development of new fields of research such as elementary particle physics, modern astrophysics and cosmology are direct consequences of this discovery. Over the years the field of cosmic ray research has evolved in various directions: Firstly, the field of particle physics that was initiated by the discovery of many so-called elementary particles in the cosmic radiation. There is a strong trend from the accelerator physics community to reenter the field of cosmic ray physics, now under the name of astroparticle physics. Secondly, an important branch of cosmic ray physics that has rapidly evolved in conjunction with space exploration concerns the low energy portion of the cosmic ray spectrum. Thirdly, the branch of research that is concerned with the origin, acceleration and propagation of the cosmic radiation represents a great challenge for astrophysics, astronomy and cosmology. Presently very popular fields of research have rapidly evolved, such as high-energy gamma ray and neutrino astronomy. In addition, high-energy neutrino astronomy may soon initiate as a likely spin-off neutrino tomography of the Earth and thus open a unique new branch of geophysical research of the interior of the Earth. Finally, of considerable interest are the biological and medical aspects of the cosmic radiation because of it ionizing character and the inevitable irradiation to which we are exposed. This book is a reference manual for researchers and students of cosmic ray physics and associated fields and phenomena. It is not intended to be a tutorial. However, the book contains an adequate amount of background materials that its content should be useful to a broad community of scientists and professionals. The present book contains chiefly a data collection in compact form that covers the cosmic radiation in the vicinity of the Earth, in the Earth's atmosphere, at sea level and underground. Included are predominantly experimental but also theoretical data. In addition the book contains related data, definitions and important relations. The aim of this book is to offer the reader in a single volume a readily available comprehensive set of data that will save him the need of frequent time consuming literature searches.

Active Galactic Nuclei

Active Galactic Nuclei
Author: Volker Beckmann
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 390
Release: 2012-09-24
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3527410783

Active Galactic Nuclei This AGN textbook gives an overview on the current knowledge of the Active Galacitc Nuclei phenomenon. The spectral energy distribution will be discussed, pointing out what can be observed in different wavebands. The different physical models are presented together with formula important for the understanding of AGN physics. Furthermore, the authors discuss the AGN with respect to its environment, host galaxy, feedback in galaxies and in clusters of galaxies, variability, etc. and finally the cosmological evolution of the AGN phenomenon. This book includes phenomena based on new results in the X-Ray and gamma-ray domain from new telescopes such as Chandra, XMM-Newton, the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope, and the VHE regime not mentioned so far in AGN books. Those and other new developments as well as simulations of AGN merging events and formations, enabled through latest super-computing capabilities. From the contents: The observational picture of AGN Radiative processes The central engine AGN types and unification AGN through the electromagnetic spectrum AGN variability Environment Quasars and cosmology Formation, evolution and the ultimate fate of AGN What we do not know (yet)

Exploring the Unknown

Exploring the Unknown
Author: Roger D. Launius
Publisher:
Total Pages: 832
Release: 1995
Genre: Astronautics
ISBN:

"Exploring the unknown" is a multi-volume series containing a selection of key documents in the history of the U.S. civil space program. Volume V, focusing on the exploration of space by robotic spacecraft that have significantly altered our perspectives on the cosmos, prints 121 key documents on the history of space science, planetary exploration of the solar system, and space astrophysics, edited for ease of use. Many of these documents are published here for the first time. Each is introduced by a headnote providing context, bibliographical information, and background information necessary to understanding the document. This documentary history is an essential reference for anyone interested in the history of the U.S. civil space program and its development over time. It will serve as a valuable source both for students and scholars. Additional volumes will appear later that trace space science and the programmatic developments in the history of the U.S. exploration of space.

Discovering the Universe

Discovering the Universe
Author: Neil F. Comins
Publisher: Macmillan
Total Pages: 674
Release: 2011-04-25
Genre: Science
ISBN: 142925520X

Discovering the Universe is the bestselling brief text for descriptive one-term astronomy courses (especially those with no mathematics prerequisites). Carried along by the book's vibrant main theme, "the process of scientific discovery," the Ninth Edition furthers the book’s legacy for presenting concepts clearly and accurately while providing all the pedagogical tools to make the learning process memorable.

The Physics and Evolution of Active Galactic Nuclei

The Physics and Evolution of Active Galactic Nuclei
Author: Hagai Netzer
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 369
Release: 2013-09-16
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1107021510

A comprehensive introduction to the theory underpinning our study of active galactic nuclei and the ways we observe them.

Space Exploration and Humanity [2 volumes]

Space Exploration and Humanity [2 volumes]
Author: American Astronautical Society
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 1557
Release: 2010-08-23
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1851095195

A complete history of human endeavors in space, this book also moves beyond the traditional topics of human spaceflight, space technology, and space science to include political, social, cultural, and economic issues, and also commercial, civilian, and military applications. In two expertly written volumes, Space Exploration and Humanity: A Historical Encyclopedia covers all aspects of space flight in all participating nations, ranging from the Cold War–era beginnings of the space race to the lunar landings and the Apollo-Soyuz mission; from the Shuttle disasters and the Hubble telescope to Galileo, the Mars Rover, and the International Space Station. The book moves beyond the traditional topics of human spaceflight, space technology, and space science to include political, social, cultural, and economic issues, and also commercial, civilian, and military applications. Produced in conjunction with the History Committee of the American Astronautical Society, this work divides its coverage into six sections, each beginning with an overview essay, followed by an alphabetically organized series of entries on topics such as astrophysics and planetary science; civilian and commercial space applications; human spaceflight and microgravity science; space and society; and space technology and engineering. Whether investigating a specific issue or event or tracing an overarching historic trend, students and general readers will find this an invaluable resource for launching their study of one of humanity's most extraordinary endeavors.