Spin in Particle Physics

A thorough and pedagogical treatment of spin in elementary particle physics, for graduates and researchers.

Elliot Leader (Author)

9780521352819, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 12 July 2001

528 pages, 132 b/w illus.
24.4 x 17 x 2.9 cm, 1.268 kg

'The strong point is, as might be expected from Professor Leader's lifetime interest in the subject, the pedagogical aspects and the clear exposition of formalism throughout. The book will appeal to graduate students and experimentalists working in the field who need clear guidance in the spin dependent aspects of the electroweak Standard Model and QCD.' Contemporary Physics

Motivated by recent dramatic developments in the field, this book provides a thorough introduction to spin and its role in elementary particle physics. Starting with a simple pedagogical introduction to spin and its relativistic generalisation, the author successfully avoids the obscurity and impenetrability of traditional treatments of the subject. The book surveys the main theoretical and experimental developments, as well as discussing exciting plans for the future. Emphasis is placed on the importance of spin-dependent measurements in testing QCD and the Standard Model. This book will be of value to graduate students and researchers working in all areas of quantum physics and particularly in elementary particle and high energy physics. It is suitable as a supplementary text for graduate courses in theoretical and experimental particle physics.

Preface
1. Spin and helicity
2. The effect of Lorentz and discrete transformations on helicity states, fields and wave-functions
3. The spin density matrix
4. Transition amplitudes
5. The observables of a reaction
6. The production of polarized hadrons
7. The production of polarized e±
8. Analysis of polarized states: polarimetry
9. Electroweak interactions
10. Quantum chromodynamics: spin in the world of massless partons
11. The spin of the nucleon: polarized deep inelastic scattering
12. Two-spin and parity-violating single spin asymmetries at large scale
13. One particle inclusive transverse single-spin asymmetries
14. Elastic scattering at high energies
Appendices.

Subject Areas: Quantum physics [quantum mechanics & quantum field theory PHQ], Particle & high-energy physics [PHP], Physics [PH]