6 ECTS credits
180 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4012730CNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (C) Bachelor - specialised level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Students must have followed 'Quantum Field Theory', before they can enroll for 'Extensions of the Standard Model'.
Taught in
English
Partnership Agreement
Under interuniversity agreement for degree program
Under agreement for exchange of courses
Faculty
Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Department
Physics
Educational team
Steven Lowette (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
36 contact hours Lecture
12 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
Course Content

We start with an overview of the problems of the Standard Model in being a complete theory of particle physics. Some experimental measured properties provide a strong constraint on the range of models to go beyond the Standard Model. We will discuss those both from the theoretical and experimental perspective. This we use as a motivation to propose different models to overcome at least some of the problems of the Standard Model. We discuss for example Grand Unification Theories, Dark Matter, Supersymmetry, and mechanisms to generate neutrino masses, and discuss anomalies and aspects of effective field theory. We provide the connection to experimental tests and the current status in the field.

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Notes will be provided by the lectures.
Additional info

The course consists of lectures, supervised exrecises, and a personal project.
Time distribution during the contact hours: 2/3 lectures; 1/3 exercises.

We recommend the elective course "Electroweak and strong interactions" (4012717CNR, lecturer Alexander Sevrin) to be taken before following this course.

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

The student obtains insight in the diverse theoretical possibilities to expand the Standard Model of elementary particle physics. The student will be able to calculate and make interpretations within the framework of these models. The student will be able to translate these models into phenomenology relevant for experimental testing, and obtain an overview of the state-of-the-art in the experimental verification of various extensions of the standard model.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Mondeling examen with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: Oral exam with preparation (a theory part and an experimental part).

Additional info regarding evaluation

Oral exam with preparation:
- 50% on questions about lectures and exercises
- 50% on personal project: in depth study of one aspect going beyond the material presented during the lectures

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Physics and Astronomy: Minor Research
Master of Physics and Astronomy: Minor Economy and Business
Master of Physics and Astronomy: Minor Education
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: fysica (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)