The Particle Garden: Our Universe as Understood by Particle Physicists

by Gordon L. Kane

Book Overview

The Particle Garden is the clearest survey of particle physics, including the theory, its experimental foundations, its relations to cosmology and astrophysics, and its future. Known as an excellent expositor of physics, Kane has marshaled his research and teaching experience to make this daunting subject understandable to all readers.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0201408260
• ISBN13: 9780201408263
• Release Date: July 1996
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Great Book For Interested Physics Students

When reading books about Chemistry or Physics, the level of depth is usually to the electron, proton, neutron, and there is usually some mention of quarks and antimatter and dark matter, but with no explanation of where these ideas are coming from. This book gives a good, nonmathematical description of the Standard Theory (Model) of particle physics, which gives a good account of what particles are known, how forces are treated using particles called Bosons. The books will answer any questions about what is known, but without proofs. I plan to study physics as an undergrad, and probably grad too, and have always been attracted to learning about the fundamental particles. This book was very satisfying for me, and will be for other interested students. Kane provides information about not only the standard theory, but also the facilities where research is done, where the field is going, and what a future student can expect. A quick read and definitely worth the time!

Fantastic!

This book concisely brings together vast amounts of knowledge on the Standard Model and theoretical extensions of the Standard Model including supersymmetry, Higgs Boson particles, grand unification, quantum gravity, etc. There are many charts in the book that make excellent reference material. Even advanced topics are very easy to understand.

A excellent primer on particle physics!

A very good book describing the search for fundamental particles and a theory to unify the four known forces (gravitational, electromagnetic, weak and strong). Dr. Kane takes a philisopical approach at times, such as when he describes the three different ways in which we "understand" things. He provides an adequate history of particle physics but does not dwell on it, instead focusing on progress made to date. I found the book very enjoyable to read.

Highly recommended!

This is the best introduction to particle physics that I know of. It's very clear, and you can read the book in one or two days. Not only particles are described, but also their interactions, the theories, the experiments, the physicists that work on them, and even a bit of philosophy of science.

Good info on particle physics with focus on scientists

The world of particle physics may seem strange and unusual to most, but after reading _The Particle Garden_, any reader with even a slight interest will be left with a deeper understanding of the fundamental workings of our universe. This book differs from most other similar works by focusing much more on the current state of particle physics; too many other books, which claim to be introductions to the subject, spend at least eighty percent of their space on the history aspects of physics. _The Particle Garden_ differs in this respect by educating the reader as to the realities of the topic in the 1990s, including such recent and advanced topics as CP symmetry violation. As an added treat, any young individuals who might be considering a career in the sciences will undoubtedly enjoy Cane's chapter "Doing Particle Physics: The care and feeding of a Particle physicist . . ." In short, if you are interested in any sort of physics, or what to know what a particle physicist really does for a living, or even if you just want a more thorough understanding of how the universe works, Kane's _The Particle Garden_ is a must read. Eric Jonas eric-j@primenet.com