Aims of the Course:

Understanding the many-body structure of hadrons, understanding structural examinations with electromagnetic probes, introduction into experimental phenomenology

Contents of the Course:

Structure Parameters of baryons and mesons; hadronic, electromagnetic and weak probes; size, form factors and structure functions; quarks, asymptotic freedom, confinement, resonances; symmetries and symmetry breaking, hadron masses; quark models, meson and baryon spectrum; baryon spectroscopy and exclusive reactions; missing resonances, exotic states

Recommended Literature:

B. Povh, K. Rith C. Scholz, F. Zetsche; Teilchen und Kerne (Springer, Heidelberg 6. Aufl. 2004)

Perkins; Introduction to High Energy Physics (Cambridge University Press 4. Aufl. 2000)

K. Gottfried, F. Weisskopf; Concepts of Particle Physics (Oxford University Press 1986)

For many years people are trying to understand the dynamics inside protons and neutrons, the building blocks of our world. Despite much progress, a full description is still elusive. This is partially due to the complex nature of Quantum Chromodynamics, the theory describing the strong interaction, which is non-perturbative on the relevant energy scales. Therefore, we rely on excellent experimental data to make further progress in understanding the strong force.

Studying the strong interaction in hadron physics experiments involves many individual elements that have to work together seamlessly. Bonn is one of the few places in the world where we can perform so-called double polarisation experiments with polarised photon beams and polarised targets. In this seminar we want to explore the required tools and techniques as well as the latest developments of such experiments. We will be studying relevant papers covering accelerator physics, spin-polarised targets, detector physics, and analyses being carried out in Bonn. Using ELSA as an example we will discuss accelerator physics and look at recent advances in polarised beam production and acceleration. We will explore techniques for polarizing protons and neutrons for use in fixed-targets using cryogenic systems and their connection outside basic research, e.g. in medical imaging.  We will look at the detector systems used for hadron physics experiments at Bonn and how they are optimised to measure different types of reactions. We will examine some of the results of these experiments to assess their impact on the field of hadron physics.

Students will work with selected research papers addressing specific aspects of the experimental chain and present their topic in a 30–40 minute seminar talk. Support during the preparation of the talks will be provided by experienced tutors.

The first session introduces the scientific context and available topics. Presentations will be assigned within the first two weeks, and the seminar talks will begin approximately one month later to allow sufficient preparation time.

Students have to sign up through basis. Successful presentation and active participation will be awarded with 4 CP.