Symmetries and fundamental interactions of elementary particles

• Grant number: 15/15498-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2015
• End date: November 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Elementary Particle Physics and Fields
• Principal Investigator: Tereza Cristina da Rocha Mendes
• Grantee: Leandro Alex Moreira Viscardi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The symmetries of physics, whose mathematical description is given by the group theory, are associated with conservation rules and are very important to our understanding of the laws governing the universe. In particular, the interactions described by the standard model are associated with the quantum field theories which have gauge symmetry. Elementary particles are the quarks and leptons (fermions of spin 1/2) and their antiparticles. Bosons are particles of spin 1 which mediating the interactions, or "quanta" of gauge fields. The important interactions in particle physics are a strong force, electromagnetic interaction and the weak force, all of which are described by the Standard Model. The present project aims to introduce the literature of particle physics area, and computational techniques used in the study of fundamental interactions. At the end of the program the student will have a basis for the realization of a future graduate project in particle physics or quantum field theory.