Ian Aitchison's home page

Supersymmetry and Gauge Theories

New in 2009 is a
  • list of misprints and minor corrections for my book `Supersymmetry in Particle Physics An Elementary Introduction'
    • (see below) in pdf format.
    New in 2007 were
    (i) `Supersymmetry in Particle Physics An Elementary Introduction' by Ian J R Aitchison, published by Cambridge University Press, 2007. See details below, under `Books'.
    (ii) `An Informal Introduction to Gauge Field Theories' by Ian J R Aitchison, published by Cambridge University Press, 2007. This is a digitally printed re-issue (with additional corrections) of the book originally published by CUP in 1982, and reprinted with corrections in 1984. See further below, under `Books'.
    (iii)
  • Solutions to problems in `Gauge Theories in Particle Physics', 3rd edtn, vol. 2.

    (iv) An updated
  • List of misprints and minor corrections for `Gauge Theories in Particle Physics', 3rd edtn, vol. 2.

    • Recent other additions are
  • Solutions to problems in `Gauge Theories in Particle Physics', 3rd edtn, vol. 1. and
  • List of misprints and minor corrections for `Gauge Theories in Particle Physics', 3rd edtn, vol. 1.
    • (all ps format; pdf versions can be supplied on request).

    Relativistic Quantum Mechanics

    New in 2008 was a
  • list of misprints and corrections for my book `Relativistic Quantum Mechanics' (Macmillan, 1972).
    • This has been out of print for a long time, but it is still recommended for some courses and a posting of my (not short) Errata list (in pdf format) seems worthwhile.

    Research Interests

    Books

    I. New in 2007: 'Supersymmetry in Particle Physics An Elementary Introduction' (Cambridge University Press, 2007)

    This book is based on lectures I gave at Oxford in 2004-7. Here is the blurb:

    ``Supersymmetry has been a central topic in particle physics since the early 1980s, and represents the culmination of the search for fundamental symmetries that has dominated particle physics for the last 50 years. Traditionally, the constituents of matter (fermions) have been regarded as essentially different from the particles (bosons) that transmit the forces between them. In supersymmetry, however, fermions and bosons are unified.

    This is the first textbook to provide a simple pedagogical introduction to what has been a formidably technical field. The elementary and practical treatment brings readers to the frontier of contemporary research, in particular to the confrontation with experiments at the Large Hadron Collider. Intended primarily for first-year graduate students in particle physics, both experimental and theoretical, this volume will also be of value to researchers in experimental and phenomenological supersymmetry. Supersymmetric theories are constructed through an intuitive `trial and error' approach, rather than being formal and deductive. The basic elements of spinor formalism and superfields are introduced, allowing readers to access more advanced treatments. Emphasis is placed on physical understanding, and on detailed, explicit derivations of all important steps. Many short exercises are included making for a valuable and accessible self-study tool.''

    The book may be ordered direct from its CUP website , or from Amazon in the UK here or from Amazon in the USA here .

    As this is the first printing of this book, I am particularly keen to hear of any errors that readers may find: please email me (i.aitchison1@physics.ox.ac.uk) when you find any! The above-mentioned
  • list of misprints and minor corrections for this book
    • was posted in February 2009.

    II. A digitally printed re-issue (with further corrections) in 2007 of the book `An Informal Introduction to Gauge Field Theories',

    first published by Cambridge University Press in 1982, and reprinted with corrections in 1984. The book's website at CUP is here , at Amazon in the UK is here and at Amazon in the USA is here .

    III. Third Edition of Aitchison and Hey: `Gauge Theories in Particle Physics' in two volumes

    Ever wondered what a Majorana fermion is? Want to understand the renormalization group? Spontaneous symmetry breaking? See volume 2 below!

    Volume 1: From Relativistic Quantum Mechanics to QED

    Volume 1 was published in October 2002. Here is the blurb:
    This book provides an accessible, practical and comprehensive introduction to the three gauge theories of the `standard model' of particle physics: quantum electrodynamics (QED), quantum chromodynamics (QCD), and the electroweak theory. For each of them, the authors provide a thorough discussion of the main conceptual points; a detailed exposition of many practical calculations of physical quantities; and a comparison of these quantitative predictions with experimental results. For this two-volume third edition, much of the book has been rewritten to reflect developments over the last decade, both in the curricula of university courses, and in particle physics research. On the one hand, substantial new material has been introduced which is intended for use in undergraduate physics courses. New introductory chapters provide a concise historical account of the properties of quarks and leptons, and a qualitative overview of the quantum field description of their interactions, at a level appropriate to third year courses. The chapter on relativistic quantum mechanics has been enlarged, and is supplemented by additional sections on scattering theory and Green functions, in a form appropriate to fourth year courses. On the other hand, since precision experiments now test the theories beyond lowest order in perturbation theory, an understanding of the data requires a more sophisticated knowledge of quantum field theory, including ideas of renormalization. The treatment of quantum field theory has therefore been considerably extended so as to provide a uniquely accessible and self-contained introduction to quantum field dynamics, as described by Feynman graphs; the level is suitable for advanced fourth year undergraduates and first year graduates.

    Key Features

  • The two-volume book provides an accessible, practical and comprehensive introduction to the Standard Model of particle physics
  • Emphasis is placed on developing realistic calculations from a secure physical and conceptual basis
  • Much of the book has been rewritten to reflect developments over the last decade
  • The initial chapters of the 2nd edition have been extended in the new volume 1, and new Appendices added, so as to provide a graduated and progressive introduction suitable for 3rd and 4th year (UK) undergraduates.
  • Volume 1 contains a discursive introduction to renormalization for a simple model field theory, followed by more technical applications to QED and modern ideas of effective theories, suitable for advanced 4th year undergraduates / beginning postgraduates


    • See below for key features of volume 2.

  • List of misprints and minor corrections for vol. 1.
  • Solutions to vol. 1 problems

    • Volume 2: QCD and the Electroweak Theory.

    Volume 2 was published in January 2004. It covers non-Abelian gauge theories, specifically QCD and the electroweak theory. The first two chapters introduce global and local non-Abelian symmetries from scratch. Then follow two chapters on QCD, which include the calculation of scaling violations in deep inelastic scattering using the renormalization group. These are followed by a chapter on lattice field theory, which includes another look at the renormalization group from the `real space' (rather than momentum-space) viewpoint, and an introduction to lattice QCD. Next, the crucial topic of `spontaneous symmetry breaking' is introduced, accompanied by pedagogical treatments of examples from condensed matter physics. Both global and local symmetries are covered, and both Abelian and non-Abelian. One chapter is devoted to spontaneously broken global chiral symmetry. The remaining chapters develop the electroweak theory. One chapter provides a self-contained introduction to weak interaction phenomenology, including massive neutrinos of both Dirac and Majorana type. The electroweak theory is then presented, along with the the classic experimental confirmations. Finally, special sections are devoted to higher order corrections, the top quark, and to the Higgs sector. There are 5 Appendices, covering: Group Theory, Dimensional Regularization, Grassmann Variables, Majorana Fermions, and the Feynman Rules for tree graphs in QCD and in the electroweak theory.

    Key Features of volume 2

  • Simple ideas of group theory are now incorporated into the discussion of non-Abelian symmetries, supported by a self-contained appendix on group theory
  • Two new chapters have been added on QCD: one is devoted to the renormalization group and scaling violations in deep inelastic scattering, building on the discussion of renormalization of QED in volume 1, and supported by an appendix on dimensional regularization; the other treats non-perturbative aspects of QCD using the lattice formulation of quantum field theory (supported by an appendix on Grassmann variables), which is also used to illuminate various aspects of renormalization theory via analogies with condensed matter systems
  • Three chapters treat the fundamental topic of spontaneous symmetry breaking: the Bogoliubov superfluid and the BCS superconductor are studied in some detail, to establish the concepts and formalism in cases of known physical relevance; one chapter is devoted to the implications of global chiral symmetry breaking in QCD; and one to the breaking of local SU(2)xU(1) symmetry in the electroweak theory
  • Weak interaction phenomenology is extended to include discussion of discrete symmetries, and of the possibility that neutrinos might be Majorana (rather than Dirac) fermions; a new appendix introduces the description of Majorana particles in a way that joins smoothly onto the standard treatment of Dirac fermions given elsewhere in the book
  • Most of these topics are normally found only in more advanced texts, and this is the first book to treat them in a manner accessible to the wide readership which the previous editions have attracted


  • List of misprints and minor corrections for vol. 2.
  • Solutions to vol. 2 problems


    • Buying the Book

    This book was originally published by Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP), but is now (mid-2005) published by Taylor and Francis, following a decision by IOPP to cease book publication. T&F are part of CRC Press. The books have their own web sites: volume 1 , and volume 2 . You can download the corrections and the solutions to the problems from these sites. There is also a US site ; click on `Physics', then on `Particle/High Energy Physics', and scroll down. You can buy the two volumes together, or either volume separately. Alternatively, you can go to Amazon: the two-volume set is here ; volume 1 is here ; and volume 2 is here .
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    Please do not hesitate to email me (i.aitchison1@physics.ox.ac.uk) with any queries you might have if you are reading these books - e.g. bits
    you don't understand, or *misprints* you've found. A list of misprints and minor corrections for volume 1 can be found here (ps format), and those for volume 2 are here (ps format).
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    Lecture Courses (pdf versions of anything listed below can be supplied on request)