Renormalization and the running of coupling constants

Particle Physics 2: Standard Model (Winter, 2010)

Lecture Playlist

  1. Particles fields and forces

  2. Quantum chromodynamics

  3. Group theory – part 1

  4. Group theory – part 2

  5. Gauge fields and symmetry

  6. The weak interaction

  7. Spontaneous symmetry breaking and Goldstone bosons

  8. The Higgs field

  9. The Higgs field and fermions

  10. Renormalization and the running of coupling constants

March 15, 2010

The final lecture returns to renormalization, the mass of fermions, the W boson and the expected mass scale of the Higgs. Professor Susskind finishes with the running of the coupling constants and the interesting fact that they appear to unify at an energy scale of 10^16 GeV.

Topics: 
  • Renormalization
  • The Lagrangian for the Dirac equation (handedness)
  • The W boson and mass scale for Higgs boson
  • The running of coupling constants and unification
  • Gravity at short distances