Elementary particles. 2. ed.

This book is intended for undergraduates or others coming to the subject of particle physics for the first time. The only prior knowledge assumed is the elements of quantum theory and statistical mechanics. The first chapter outlines the principal techniques used in particle physics. Subsequent chapters cover advances in both theory and experiment. These include the discovery of the antiproton, the strange particles, the Gell-Mann-Nishijima scheme, parity non-conservation, the difference between electron and muon neutrinos, the strongly-decaying resonances, the SU(3) symmetry scheme and the omega particle, evidence for quarks and gluons, neutral currents, charm and beauty, electromagnetic weak unification, and the discovery of the W and Z bosons. Where useful, an historical approach is taken. The theoretical emphasis is on those aspects derivable from conservation laws. (UK)