Discrete Symmetries and CP Violation: From Experiment to Theory(Oxford Graduate Texts)

The investigation of discrete symmetries is a fascinating subject which has been central to the agenda of physics research for 50 years, and has been the target of many experiments, ongoing and in preparation, all over the world. This book approaches the subject from a somewhat less traditional angle: while being self-contained and suitable to the reader who wants to acquire a solid knowledge of the topic, it puts more emphasis on the experimental aspects of the field, trying to provide a wider picture than usual and to convey the intellectual challenge of experimental physics. The book includes the related connection to phenomenology, a purpose for which the precision experiments in this field - often rather elegant and requiring a good amount of ingenuity - are very well suited. The book discusses discrete symmetries (parity, charge conjugation, time reversal, and of course CP symmetry) in microscopic (atomic, nuclear, and particle) physics, and includes the detailed description of some key or representative experiments. The book discusses their principles and challenges more than the historical development. The main past achievements and the most recent developments are both included. The level goes from introductory to advanced. While mainly addressed to graduate students, the book can also be useful to undergraduates (by skipping some of the more advanced sections, and utilizing the brief introductions to some topics in the appendices), and to young researchers looking for a wider modern overview of the issues related to CP symmetry.

Table of Contents:
1: Symmetries and invariances 2: Parity 3: Charge conjugation 4: Time reversal 5: CPT and spin-statistics 6: CP symmetry 7: Flavoured neutral meson systems 8: CP Violation in the K system 9: The link to theory 10: CP Violation in heavy meson systems Widening the picture Appendices Bibliography

About the Author :
Marco Sozzi Associate Professor in Physics University of Pisa Piazza dei Cavalieri 7 - 56126 Pisa Italy Studied in Torino, where he received his Ph.D. in elementary particle physics. Involved in particle physics experiments at Fermilab and CERN, where he spent several years as a fellow and a research associate. His main areas of research is CP violation, and he worked in the NA48 experiment at CERN which proved the existence of direct CP violation in kaon decays, since its beginning, and participated to the follow-up program in NA48/1 and NA48/2, of which he is deputy spokesman. He is author of about 70 articles and monographies in international journals.He has been teaching courses in general physics, particle physics and CP violation to undergraduate and graduate students at the Scuola Normale and the Universities of Pisa and Firenze, as well at international schools. Since 2003 he has habilitation for associate professorship in physics.

Review :
`Sozzi, himself a prominent researcher in the important quest to understand violations of discrete symmetries, presents a comprehensive picture of this critical subject in fundamental particle physics. Background and all major developments are covered with an unusual degree of thoroughness. Where the book is particularly valuable is in its historical perspective and its treatment of experimentation. Key experiments are described with emphasis on aspects of implementation which made discovery possible. There is much to be valued here, for both experimentalists and theorists.This may be the only such book which includes a chapter on one of the most important topics in experimental physics: systematic errors.' Bruce Winstein, University of Chicago `A unique contribution to the available texts on these topics.' Aaron Roodman, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Stanford University