Heavy Quark Physics (Cambridge Monographs on Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Cosmology)

Understanding the physics of heavy quarks gives physicists a unique opportunity to test the predictions of quantum chromodynamics and the Standard Model. This introductory text begins with a review of the Standard Model, followed by the basics of heavy quark spin-flavor symmetry and its application to the classification of states, decays and fragmentation. Heavy quark effective theory is then developed and applied to the study of hadron masses, form factors, and inclusive decay rates. The authors also discuss the application of chiral perturbation theory to heavy hadrons. Written by two world leading experts, the presentation is clear and original, with problems provided at the end of each chapter. This lucid volume is an ideal introduction to the physics of heavy quarks for graduate students and an authoritative reference for more experienced researchers. First published in 2000, this title has been reissued as an Open Access publication on Cambridge Core.

Aneesh Manohar is Professor of Physics at the University of California, San Diego. After receiving his Ph.D. from Harvard University, Professor Manohar held positions at Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before moving to the University of California, San Diego, where he has been since 1989. He was awarded the A. P. Sloan Fellowship from 1987 to 1990.

Mark Wise is the John A. McCone Professor of High Energy Physics at the California Institute of Technology. After receiving his Ph.D. from Stanford, he was a Junior Fellow at Harvard University before moving to Caltech in 1983. Professor Wise also held the A. P. Sloan Fellowship from 1984 to 1987.