Discovering Elementary Particles and Determining Their Masses

Rajan Gupta, LANL, T-8

The Standard Model of elementary particles and their interactions is consistent with and explains all current experiments. It is remarkably simple and yet encompassing of all physics at or below the weak interactions scale. This talk will provide an overview of the discovery of the various elementary particles, starting with the electron and leading up to quarks. It will also describe how computers are being used to determine the rest mass of quarks, particles that make up neutrons and protons but are not seen as asymptotic states in detectors.

The P/T Colloquium is
typically held each
Thursday, 3:45–5:00 PM.
Refreshments are served
at 3:15 PM.