A Tour of the Subatomic Zoo: A Guide to Particle Physics

If Your Understanding of the fundamental particles of matter is confined to the electron, proton, and neutron, take heart. Here is a book that takes you on a tour through the world of the "subatomic zoo", populated by some of the most dramatic discoveries of modern science - notably, quarks, leptons, and the basic forces that govern their interactions. You'll also encounter the accelerators and detectors that are used to find these exotic particles. Most important, your tour is conducted in terms that are easily understood - even if you have no prior physics background. Each chapter begins with an overview of concepts and terms, and ends with a summary section and self-tests to help you gauge just how much you have learned. This second edition has been revised to reflect recent developments in high-energy physics, including new particle accelerators, advances in detector technology, and the discovery of the top quark. The author has also added a list of World Wide Web sites where the reader can find more information on particle physics. Even if you've never been exposed to high-energy physics, have forgotten what you once knew, or have simply not kept current, A Tour of the Subatomic Zoo will bring you right up to date on developments that are continually refining our picture of matter and science.