Lectures on Field Theory and the Standard Model: A Symmetry-Oriented Approach

Abstract

The standard model of particle physics represents the cornerstone of our understanding of the microscopic world. In these lectures we review its contents and structure, with a particular emphasis on the central role played by symmetries and their realization. This is not intended to be an exhaustive review but a discussion of selected topics that we find interesting, with the specific aim of clarifying some subtle points and potential misunderstandings. A number of more technical topics are discussed in separated boxes interspersed throughout the text.