Introduction to High Energy Physics, 4th Edition ( Cambridge University Press )

Introduction to High Energy Physics, 4th Edition ( Cambridge University Press )

By addebook • Jul 14th, 2008 • Category: Physics

Introduction to High Energy Physics, 4th Edition ( Cambridge University Press )

Introduction to High Energy Physics
By Donald H. Perkins

Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Number Of Pages: 440
Publication Date: 2000-04-24
ISBN-10 / ASIN: 0521621968
ISBN-13 / EAN: 9780521621960
Binding: Hardcover

This highly regarded textbook for advanced undergraduates provides a comprehensive introduction to modern particle physics. Coverage emphasizes the balance between experiment and theory. It places stress on the phenomenological approach and basic theoretical concepts rather than rigorous mathematical detail. Donald Perkins also details recent developments in elementary particle physics, as well as its connections with cosmology and astrophysics. A number of key experiments are also identified along with a description of how they have influenced the field. Perkins presents most of the material in the context of the Standard Model of quarks and leptons. He also fully explores the shortcomings of this model and new physics beyond its compass (such as supersymmetry, neutrino mass and oscillations, GUTs and superstrings). The text includes many problems and a detailed and annotated further reading list. The volume will also provide a solid foundation for graduate study.

Summary: An absolutely HORRIBLE book to use to learn high energy physics
Rating: 1

It has been two full years since I received my doctorate in nuclear physics, and still I can’t get over just how truly horrible this book is as an introductory text. The word “introduction” in the title is an absolute lie. Unless, perhaps, it is preceded by the word “incomprehensible”. This book is truly a collection of random facts that will leave the reader totally mystified as to where they came from. It will not be until much later in the reader’s academic career that he/she understands their origin. Perkins has but one practical use: it is slightly useful to skim the day before your doctoral oral qualifier as (it seems) many professors similarly skim it in order to come up with qualifier oral questions to ask.

But I don’t hold Perkins to blame. After all, I’m sure he did his best to write what he considered to be an “introductory” high energy physics book. Whom I hold to blame are the professors who use this book as a classroom text. Here is a simple rule to use when determining whether you should take your college’s high energy physics class now or else wait until it is offered next year: if the professor is using this text, then he/she truly 1) has not read the text, 2) is totally out of touch with what an “introductory” course in high energy physics is, and 3) doesn’t care one bit about his/her students and is probably, instead, focusing purely on his/her research successes for tenure.

You have been warned.

Summary: Be prepared before reading this.
Rating: 4

This is a book whose content is close to that of most ‘traditional’ undergraduate courses on particle physics. Yet, you will probably be tempted to throw it in the dustbin after a few pages unless you have trained yourself into thinking that it’s better reading it than failing your exam and have already read a book like Giffiths’ before, where you will find some good theoretical basis for all this stuff.

Summary: Not horrible for what it is, but you can do better
Rating: 3

Basically, If you want theoretical approach stop reading this and buy griffiths’ book, it’s a lot better.
I’m using Perkins for a course mainly made up of senior undergraduates. First of all, a lot of the other reviewers have ripped the book to shreds, and most of their complaints are valid. I’d like to point out that this book actually attempts a fairly difficult task of introducing relatively advanced concepts which require qft, to students without any background in field theory.
The long and the short of it is… Perkins’ book is geared for learning with a phenomonological, experimental approach. This results in a lot of hand waving, and not many mathematical or theoretical insights. If you’re expecting these things, the book will be dissapointing.
All of this aside, there are some major flaws in the book. First of all, it kind of lacks on organization. There are a lot of charts, tables and graphs thrown about at random, and with little reasoning or thought. This makes Perkins’ fairly useless as a reference, since you might have to look at four or more different charts to find out the relevant properties of a given particle.
My other major complaint, is that Perkins uses a lot of jargon without sufficiently introducing the terminology. While, this is fine for people who already know particle physics, I’m guessing that if you’re reading this book, you don’t already know particle physics.
Finally, despite being a fourth addition, there are still a bunch of misprints/omissions. For example, there’s a question (which i conveniently had for a homework assignment) totally based on a concept not mentioned anywhere within the book. Google searches on the topic led only to obscure and inaccessible papers.
Basically, if you have to use this book for a course be prepared to read and re-read each section of it, and to suppliment with other books. I’d suggest buying griffiths along with it, event if you’re not into the whole theory thing.

Summary: Introduction to Experimental Methods
Rating: 4

As many previous reviewers have already pointed out, this book is not nearly as good an introduction to theoretical high energy physics as Griffiths’ “Introduction to Elementary Particles”. The primary reason for this is that Perkins’ book was never meant to be read as a theoretical course in the first place. This is why Griffiths introduces Feynman rules and gamma matrices near the middle of the book and uses them extensively throughout the rest; Perkins mentions them in passing in the first chapter and then completely forgets them. In Perkins you will find little rigorous math, but a lot of experimental physics. If you want to understand the theory behind T violation, use Griffiths. If you want to know how physicists measured the electric dipole momentum of the neutron ( thus putting an upper limit on the magnitude of T violation ), Perkins will explain it in detail, together with the schematics of the apparatus they used.
Overall, this book does not fit its title well – it is not a good introduction to high energy physics ( unless you are so totally averse to math that you can’t manage Griffiths or Peskin/Shroeder ). However, it has its own purpose – that is, to teach experimental methods in high energy physics. It probably should be studied after Griffiths by those who are interested in experimental side of particle physics.

Summary: A absolutely horrible introduction to High Energy Physics
Rating: 1

I used Perkin’s book for a one sememester 500 level graduate course. I honestly believe that of the 20 books that I have used in undergrad and grad school, that this is the absolute worst text I have encountered. The equations in the text are mearly thrown in without the slightest justification or hint of the possible method of derivation. If you would truly understand the significance of the equations, then you would need a background knowledge that I can hardly believe anybody looking for an introduction to high energy physics could have. However, this is far from its biggest pitfall. The book is choppy to read. There are almost no quantitative examples and yet the questions are mostly quantitative. I am sure that I could think of more specifics dislikes, but I think that the reader has seen my opion. To anybody considering buying this text I suggest instead purchasing griffiths “introduction to elementary particles.” My class was so displeased with perkins text that our professor has promised to switch to griffiths next year. To reiterate…. Perkins book is the epitome of bad writing. I give my apologies to the author, but I don’t want others to waste their time and money on this text. Buy Griffiths Book, it is good!

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