Abstract
In this introductory chapter, we shall get acquainted with the fundamental particles and their interactions, and have a first look at their characteristic properties which we shall study more fully later in this book. We shall also ponder on the crucial and pervasive role of the concept of symmetry, and close the chapter with considerations of the indispensable practical matter of physical units.
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Suggestions for Further Reading
The history of particle physics is the subject of many recent excellent books. In particular
Close, F., The Particle Explosion. Oxford U. Press, New York 1994
Ezhela, V. V. et al, Particle Physics: One Hundred Years of Discoveries: An Annotated Chronological Bibliography. AIP Press, New York 1996
Pais, A., Inward Bound. Oxford U. Press, New York 1986
For reviews with little or no mathematics, see
Davies, P. C. W., The New Physics. Cambridge U. Press, Cambridge 1989
Georgi, H., A Unified Theory of Elementary Particles and Forces. Scientific American 244 (April 1981) 48
Ho-Kim, Q., Kumar, N. and Lam, C.S., Invitation to Contemporary Physics, World Scientific, Singapore 1991; Chap. VI
t Hooft, G., Gauge Theories of the Forces between Elementary Particles. Scientific American 242 (June 1980) 104
Quigg, C., Elementary Particles and Forces. Scientific American 252 (April 1985) 84
Ramond, P., Gauge Theories and their Unification. Ann. Rev. Nucl. Part. Sci. 41 (1983) 31
Symmetry has always fascinated philosophers and artists alike. Some examples are
Brack, A., et al., La symtrie daujourd'hui. Eds. du Seuil, Paris 1989
Hargittai, I. and Hargittai, M., Symmetry through the Eyes of a Chemist. VCH Publishers, New York 1987
MacGillavry, C. H., Symmetry Aspects of M. C. Eschers Periodic Drawings. Bohn, Scheltema, and Holkema, Utrecht 1976
Schröder, E., Dürer. Kunst und Geometrie. Akademie Verlag, Berlin 1980
Shubnikov, A. V. and Koptsik, V. A., Symmetry in Science and Art. Plenum Press, New York 1974
Weyl, H., Symmetry. Princeton U. Press, Princeton 1973
Wigner, E., Symmetries and Reflections. Indiana U. Press, Bloomington 1967
Yang, C. N., Elementary Particles. Princeton U. Press, Princeton 1962
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Ho-Kim, Q., Pham, XY. (1998). Particles and Interactions: An Overview. In: Elementary Particles and Their Interactions. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03712-6_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03712-6_1
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-08349-5
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