Skills

Physics 13: Particle and Nuclear Physics

14 weeks · 2 milestones

The Standard Model, nuclei and how particles are detected. An elective of the Varsity Curriculum: Physics. Free sources only.

Part of: Physics · Proves for: UG

Milestone map

2 milestones

Particles, forces and nuclei

7 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Watch the 8.701 lecture videos on the Standard Model, nuclear structure and detectors. Then solve the 8.701 problem sets. Self-check: MIT 8.701 problem sets with solutions.

Proof required

Link the public repo with the 8.701 problem sets written up (a typeset PDF, LaTeX source or notebook), and show the self-check: which answers matched and how you fixed the ones that did not.

What gets checked

Conservation laws are checked for every reaction.
Kinematics use four-vectors correctly.
Each set is marked against its solutions.

Common mistakes

Answers copied from the key with no working.
Wrong units or missing signs.

Powstik Guide

A public write-up of the 8.701 problem sets, with the self-check shown.

Steps

Study the linked course and chapters.
Solve the problems on your own first.
Check them against the self-check and rework the misses.
Typeset the write-up (LaTeX or a notebook) in a public repo.
Ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 13: Particle and Nuclear Physics, unit 1: Particles, forces and nuclei
Problems:
Self-check result (matched / reworked):
What I got wrong first and why:

What gets sent back

No working shown.
The self-check result is missing.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Conservation laws are checked for every reaction.
Kinematics use four-vectors correctly.
Each set is marked against its solutions.
Is the physics right, not just the final number?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Measure the Z boson mass from CMS data

7 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Make an analysis of CMS open data that rebuilds the dimuon invariant-mass spectrum and measures the Z boson mass and peak width (detector resolution plus the natural width). Build each muon's four-vector from pt, η and φ (muon mass 0.106 GeV), compute each pair's invariant mass, fit the peak near 91 GeV with a signal plus a background shape, and show how the result depends on the background model.

Proof required

Link the public repo with the analysis notebook and the data's source, the result with its uncertainty, and a README that says what you did and what limits the result.

What gets checked

The invariant mass is computed correctly from four-vectors.
The fitted mass has an uncertainty, including the effect of the fit choice.
The mass is compared with the published 91.19 GeV, and the width with 2.50 GeV, noting the detector's share.

Common mistakes

A result with no uncertainty.
Code or data that cannot be rerun from the repo.

Powstik Guide

An analysis of CMS open data that rebuilds the dimuon invariant-mass spectrum and measures the Z boson mass and peak width (detector resolution plus the natural width), in a public repo.

Steps

Write down what you expect before you start.
Build each muon's four-vector from pt, η and φ (muon mass 0.106 GeV), compute each pair's invariant mass, fit the peak near 91 GeV with a signal plus a background shape, and show how the result depends on the background model.
Work out the uncertainty from your own data.
Compare with the accepted value and explain any gap.
Write the README and ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 13: Particle and Nuclear Physics — Measure the Z boson mass from CMS data
What I expected:
Method:
Result (value ± uncertainty):
Accepted value and comparison:
What limits the result:

What gets sent back

No uncertainty, or one that is guessed.
Code that does not run.

Resources

Foundationstart here

What a verifier looks for

The invariant mass is computed correctly from four-vectors.
The fitted mass has an uncertainty, including the effect of the fit choice.
The mass is compared with the published 91.19 GeV, and the width with 2.50 GeV, noting the detector's share.
The uncertainty is worked out from the data or runs (spread of repeats, instrument limits, fit errors or a range of inputs), not guessed, and it is shown on the result.
Is the physics right, and could someone rerun it from the repo?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Part of

Physics 13: Particle and Nuclear Physics →

Related outcomes

Milestone map

2 milestones

Particles, forces and nuclei

7 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Watch the 8.701 lecture videos on the Standard Model, nuclear structure and detectors. Then solve the 8.701 problem sets. Self-check: MIT 8.701 problem sets with solutions.

Proof required

Link the public repo with the 8.701 problem sets written up (a typeset PDF, LaTeX source or notebook), and show the self-check: which answers matched and how you fixed the ones that did not.

What gets checked

Conservation laws are checked for every reaction.
Kinematics use four-vectors correctly.
Each set is marked against its solutions.

Common mistakes

Answers copied from the key with no working.
Wrong units or missing signs.

Powstik Guide

A public write-up of the 8.701 problem sets, with the self-check shown.

Steps

Study the linked course and chapters.
Solve the problems on your own first.
Check them against the self-check and rework the misses.
Typeset the write-up (LaTeX or a notebook) in a public repo.
Ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 13: Particle and Nuclear Physics, unit 1: Particles, forces and nuclei
Problems:
Self-check result (matched / reworked):
What I got wrong first and why:

What gets sent back

No working shown.
The self-check result is missing.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Conservation laws are checked for every reaction.
Kinematics use four-vectors correctly.
Each set is marked against its solutions.
Is the physics right, not just the final number?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Measure the Z boson mass from CMS data

7 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Proof required

Link the public repo with the analysis notebook and the data's source, the result with its uncertainty, and a README that says what you did and what limits the result.

What gets checked

The invariant mass is computed correctly from four-vectors.
The fitted mass has an uncertainty, including the effect of the fit choice.
The mass is compared with the published 91.19 GeV, and the width with 2.50 GeV, noting the detector's share.

Common mistakes

A result with no uncertainty.
Code or data that cannot be rerun from the repo.

Powstik Guide

An analysis of CMS open data that rebuilds the dimuon invariant-mass spectrum and measures the Z boson mass and peak width (detector resolution plus the natural width), in a public repo.

Steps

Write down what you expect before you start.
Build each muon's four-vector from pt, η and φ (muon mass 0.106 GeV), compute each pair's invariant mass, fit the peak near 91 GeV with a signal plus a background shape, and show how the result depends on the background model.
Work out the uncertainty from your own data.
Compare with the accepted value and explain any gap.
Write the README and ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 13: Particle and Nuclear Physics — Measure the Z boson mass from CMS data
What I expected:
Method:
Result (value ± uncertainty):
Accepted value and comparison:
What limits the result:

What gets sent back

No uncertainty, or one that is guessed.
Code that does not run.

Resources

Foundationstart here

What a verifier looks for

The invariant mass is computed correctly from four-vectors.
The fitted mass has an uncertainty, including the effect of the fit choice.
The mass is compared with the published 91.19 GeV, and the width with 2.50 GeV, noting the detector's share.
The uncertainty is worked out from the data or runs (spread of repeats, instrument limits, fit errors or a range of inputs), not guessed, and it is shown on the result.
Is the physics right, and could someone rerun it from the repo?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.