(ebook - Physics & Chemistry) Theoretical particle physics.pdf

Theoretical particle physics
A. Pais
The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021-6399
[S0034-6861(99)00702-3]
CONTENTS publication in 1893. The twilight of the 19th century was
driven by oil and steel technologies.
I. Preludes S16 Next, a ments on ‘‘high-energy’’ physics in the
II. The Years 1900–1945 S17 first years of the twentieth century:
A. The early mysteries of radioactivity S17 Pierre Curie in his 1903 Nobel lecture: ‘‘It can even be
B. Weak and strong interactions: Beginnings S18 thought that radium could e very dangerous in
C. The early years of quantum field theory S19 criminal hands, and here the question can be raised
D. The 1930s S19
whether mankind benefits from the secrets of Nature.’’ 1
1. QED S19
2. Nuclear physics S20 From a preview of the 1904 International Electrical
III. Modern Times S20 Congress in St. Louis, found in the St. Louis Post Dis-
A. QED triumphant S20 patch of October 4, 1903: ‘‘Priceless mysterious radium
B. Leptons S20 will be exhibited in St. Louis. A grain of this most won-
C. Baryons, more mesons, quarks S21 derful and mysterious metal will be shown.’’ At that Ex-
D. K mesons, a laboratory of their own S21 position a transformer was shown which generated
1. Particle mixing S21
about half a million volts (Pais, 1986).
2. Violations of P and C S22
3. Violations of CP and T S22 In March 1905