Basics of Particle Physics

Abstract

This chapter introduces the basic techniques for the study of the intimate structure of matter, described in a historical context. After reading this chapter, you should understand the fundamental tools which led to the investigation and the description of the subatomic structure, and you should be able to compute the probability of occurrence of simple interaction and decay processes. A short reminder of the concepts of quantum mechanics and of special relativity needed to understand astroparticle physics is also provided.