Introduction to Collider Physics

TL;DR

This paper provides an introductory overview of collider physics, covering theoretical tools, Standard Model processes, and strategies for searching beyond the Standard Model, including Higgs and supersymmetry searches.

Contribution

It offers a comprehensive introduction to collider physics concepts, methods, and recent search strategies, aimed at students and new researchers in the field.

Findings

Illustrates Standard Model processes at colliders

Outlines strategies for beyond Standard Model searches

Summarizes recent and future collider search efforts

Abstract

This is a set of four lectures presented at the Theoretical Advanced Study Institute (TASI-09) in June 2009. The goal of the lectures is to introduce students to some of the basic ideas and tools required for theoretical analysis of collider data. Several examples of Standard Model processes at electron-positron and hadron colliders are considered to illustrate these ideas. In addition, a general strategy for formulating searches for physics beyond the Standard Model is outlined. The lectures conclude with a brief survey of recent, ongoing and future searches for the Higgs boson and supersymmetric particles.