Offered to students admitted to Year 1 in ALL
Major/Minor ALL
Course Type
Offer in 2024 - 2025 Y N
Course Code PHYS4850
Date2024/11/12 17:50
Enquiry for Course Details
PHYS4850 Particle physics (6 credits) Academic Year 2024
Offering Department Physics Quota ---
Course Co-ordinator Prof Y J Tu, Physics < yanjuntu@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Prof Y J Tu,Physics)
Course Objectives This course covers both theoretical and experimental aspects of particle physics at the advanced undergraduate level.  This is an elective course for the theoretical physics and experimental physics themes.  This is also an essential course for those who plan to pursue postgraduate studies or work in high energy particle physics.
Course Contents & Topics Topics include: Fundamental particles; symmetry and conservation law; Feynman diagrams; electromagnetic interaction; weak interaction; strong interaction; particle accelerator and detector.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 describe and explain the fundamental physical principles for the standard model of particle physics.
CLO 2 apply these principles, together with logical and mathematical reasoning, to analyze particle physics processes.
CLO 3 capture the frontier and progress of particle physics.
CLO 4 apply basic experimental skill in particle physics
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)
Pass in PHYS3351
Course Status with Related Major/Minor /Professional Core 2024 Major in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2020 Major in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2020 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2020 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
Course to PLO Mapping 2024 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2024 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2023 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2023 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2022 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2022 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2021 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2021 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2020 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2020 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
Offer in 2024 - 2025 Y        1st sem    Examination Dec     
Offer in 2025 - 2026 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrate thorough mastery at an advanced level of extensive knowledge and skills required for attaining all the course learning outcomes. Show strong analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, with evidence of original thought, and ability to apply knowledge to a wide range of complex, familiar and unfamiliar situations. Apply highly effective organizational and presentational skills. Apply highly effective lab skills and techniques. Critical use of data and results to draw appropriate and insightful conclusions.
B Demonstrate substantial command of a broad range of knowledge and skills required for attaining at least most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to familiar and some unfamiliar situations. Apply effective organizational and presentational skills. Apply effective lab skills and techniques. Correct use of data of results to draw appropriate conclusions.
C Demonstrate general but incomplete command of knowledge and skills required for attaining most of the course Demonstrate general but incomplete command of knowledge and skills required for attaining most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to most familiar situations. Apply moderately effective organizational and presentational skills. Apply moderately effective lab skills and techniques. Mostly correct but some erroneous use of data and results to draw appropriate conclusions.
D Demonstrate partial but limited command of knowledge and skills required for attaining some of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some coherent and logical thinking, but with limited analytical and critical abilities. Show limited ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Apply limited or barely effective organizational and presentational skills. Apply partially effective lab skills and techniques. Limited ability to use data and results to draw appropriate conclusions.
Fail Demonstrate little or no evidence of command of knowledge and skills required for attaining the course learning outcomes. Lack of analytical and critical abilities, logical and coherent thinking. Show very little or no ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Organization and presentational skills are minimally effective or ineffective. Apply minimally effective or ineffective lab skills and techniques. Misuse of data and results and/or unable to draw appropriate conclusions.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Lecture with laboratory component course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Laboratory 9
Lectures 36
Tutorials 8
Reading / Self study 80
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)
Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Assignments 10 CLO 1,2,3
Examination 3-hour written exam 50 CLO 1,2,3
Laboratory reports 20 CLO 1,2,4
Test 20 CLO 1,2,3
Required/recommended reading
and online materials
Lecture notes provided by Course Coordinator
F. Halzen and A.D. Martin: Quarks and leptons: an introductory course in modern particle physics (Wiley, 1984)
Donald H. Perkins: Introduction to High Energy Physics (Cambridge University Press, 2000, 4th edition)
E. M. Henley and A. Garcia, Subatomic Physics, 3rd Ed., World Scientific, 2007
Course Website http://moodle.hku.hk
Additional Course Information NIL
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