Tentative as of January 1, 2014. Subject to change.

Physics 223B, Group theory for particle physics      Winter 2014
    TR 2:10-3:30 pm, 185 Physics.

Instructor: Joe Kiskis
            http://www.physics.ucdavis.edu/kiskis/kiskis_hp.html
            jekiskis@ucdavis.edu
            Office: 443 Physics
            Office hours: Whenever I'm in---usually most of Tuesday and Thursday.
                          Or send me email to schedule an appointment.

Texts: Group Theory in Physics, Wu-Ki Tung
       Lie Algebras in Particle Physics, 2nd ed., Howard Georgi
       
Main course home page: http://www.physics.ucdavis.edu/kiskis/courses/phy223b-w14/phy223b_hp.html
SmartSite: PHY 223B 001 WQ 2014
Although we will use some of the SmartSite tools, home base for the class is the main course 
home page at the URL above.
If you want a little basic info about SmartSite, take a look at the SmartSite link 
on the main page.

There is a class mailing list: phy223b-w14@smartsite.ucdavis.edu. If you are registered for
the class, you are automatically on the list, otherwise, you need to talk to me
to get on the list. The list uses UCD email addresses of the form
user@ucdavis.edu. Messages to the list are archived on the Smartsite.
You should check your email daily for possible messages relevant to the class.

On SmartSite, please do the Assignment "Info request" by 5pm, Monday, Jan. 6.
It just asks for the following:
1) Name 
2) Year in grad. school 
3) In what subfield of physics do you intend to do your thesis research?
4) Are you currently involved in research? If so, in what group?
5) Why are you taking this course?
6) What do you hope to get out of it?
7) Are there any specific topics in group theory that you would like to
   learn more about? If so, what?
8) Have you studied group theory in a full course or in a substantial           
   fraction of a course? If so, what text did you use?
                                                                                
Purpose of the course:

This course is primarily for students who intend to do research in particle physics -
theory or experiment. If you have not already taken 230 and 245, the stuff you learn 
here will make your life much easier in those courses. If you have had them, it should 
give you a deeper understanding of symmetry topics that you have already encountered. 
It is also a good course for anyone who wants an introduction to group theory including 
Lie groups. We will do more mathematics than physics. Group theory is the appropriate 
language with which to describe symmetry.

Philosophy, structure, and grading:
(Although teaching is not possible, learning is.)

Formal lectures are futile for at least two reasons.

1) Research has shown that people learn very, very little when they are passive
and someone else is talking at them. 

2) There is too much stuff. It is a physical impossibility to give
start-to-finish lectures on all the subjects that would be nice to cover. There
is more in the reading than we can discuss in any detail in the 27 hours
that we have.

From this, two remarks follow:
a) Since it's futile, we won't have formal lectures.
b) Since there is so much stuff, a big part of your work will be to figure out
what is central and important. I hope to be of real help to you in this.
You must think about what you read and try to develop perspective.

My role:

First of all, I cannot TEACH you anything. At best, I can transmit some
information--raw data. (But the reading can usually do this better.) I cannot
transmit knowledge or understanding. I will try to provide a framework in which
it will be possible for you to construct your own understanding. I can be a
guide and a resource.

Your role:

You need to collect some information. Your main source is the readings. That is
the raw material from which you will work to CONSTRUCT your own understanding.
Each person must go through the process. It cannot be transmitted. While you
read, think and ask yourself questions. Talk with other students and with me.
The most important thing is to take an ACTIVE role. This isn't like watching
television. If there is not enough voluntary discussion, I will call on people.

To encourage active participation by all of us, the class will be organized as
follows:

Divide into four groups of about four people each. Please work this out among
yourselves before the start of the second class on Thursday. You will
keep the same groups for the quarter.

For each meeting, there will be a reading assignment which you should read and
think about BEFORE the lecture. Class starts at 2:10. At 2:15, each group is
required to produce its most pressing question on the reading for class
discussion. From 2:10 to 2:15, you will discuss this in your groups. Since
that is not much time, you will need to be prepared with ideas and perhaps
have discussions before the start of class. These need not be deep or
sophisticated questions. Things like "We read sec. 2 ten times, and it still
makes no sense. What's going on there?" are encouraged. We will discuss the
questions from each group. After that, I will display a few questions for you
to work on in your groups. You will then present your results for discussion.
I will try to choose questions that bring out the most important points of the
reading. The purpose of this is to get you really involved in and thinking
about the topics for the day.

Following that, there will be a 10 min., open book quiz on the reading for that
day. This will be a group effort. You will work with the other members of your
group to produce one solution from your group to be handed in for grading.

There will be problem sets. You are encouraged to discuss the
problems with others. However, the solutions that you hand in should be your
own work. Problem sets are due at the start of lecture on the indicated day.
Use 8.5"x11" paper and write on one side only.

You will keep a journal. 

Each group will maintain a Wiki on a relevant topic of your choice. 
One possibility is to explore the role of group theory in research in
which one or more group members are involved.

There will be no exams.

Journals:

Logistics: You will use the Assignments tool on SmartSite to
write and submit your journal entries. Each entry should be
about a page. You should do one entry per week. I will read
these and sometimes comment when appropriate. I will not
grade each entry, but your participation in journal writing
will be part of your grade for the quarter.

Content: The journals should NOT be a summary of the reading or of class. 
They should be your thoughts and reactions to the material.

Suggestions:

1) Reflect upon the reading and class discussions.

2) Work through ideas that you are having trouble understanding. Question.
   Speculate. 

3) Look for connections to earlier parts of the course and to other parts of
   physics that you have studied.

The journals should reveal your process of working on the subject not the
final, polished product. A good journal is not one that is "right" but rather
one that shows how you have fully engaged the subject. The ratio of words to
equations should be very high. The words should be organized into COMPLETE
SENTENCES, otherwise it will be impossible for me to follow your thoughts.

Grading:

The grading for the course will be on problem sets, quizzes, journals, and
participation in the discussions in class or electronic. Presentation counts. 
Papers that are messy, hard to read, or disorganized, WILL be graded down.