Sumários

Exercise class 2

13 Março 2024, 11:00 João Nuno Ramalho Gonçalves Pires


Discussion and solution of the second series of exercises.

Theory lecture 3

13 Março 2024, 08:30 João Nuno Ramalho Gonçalves Pires


  • Klein-Gordon equation: negative particle energy solutions and unphysical negative probability densities 
  • Dirac equation
  • Properties of the Dirac gamma matrices
  • Adjoint Spinor and covariant current: Dirac equation solutions with positive probability densities
  • Solutions to the Dirac Equation
  • Antiparticles prediction: Dirac sea interpretation and Feynman-Stuckelberg intrepretation 
  • Dirac particle u1(p), u2(p) and anti-particle spinors v1(p),v2(p)

Recommended reading: Chapter 4 of Mark Thomson's book. Chapter's 7.1-7.3 of D.Griffith's book.

Exercise class 1

6 Março 2024, 11:00 João Nuno Ramalho Gonçalves Pires


Discussion and solution of the first series of exercises.

Theory Lecture 2

6 Março 2024, 08:30 João Nuno Ramalho Gonçalves Pires


  • Dirac Delta function
  • Observables in Particle Physics: Decay rates and Cross sections
  • Relativistic Fermi Golden rule for decays
  • General expression for the decay rate 1->2+3
  • Relativistic Fermi Golden rule for scattering cross sections
  • General expression for the differential cross section for the process 1+2->3+4 (center of mass frame, laboratory frame) Laboratory frame differential cross section for e+p -> e+p scattering (neglecting electron mass m_e << m_p)

Recommended reading: Chapter 3 of Mark Thomson's book. Chapter 6 of D.Griffith's book.

Theory lecture 1

28 Fevereiro 2024, 11:00 João Nuno Ramalho Gonçalves Pires


  • Review of Special Relativity: Lorentz transformations, metric tensor and covariant and contravariant vectors
  • Mandelstam s,t,u variables
  • Fixed target and Circular Collider experiments

Recommended reading: Chapters 1 and 2 of Mark Thomson's book. Chapter's 2 and 3 of D.Griffith's book.