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

Understanding the physics of heavy quarks gives physicists the unique opportunity to test the predictions of Quantum Chromodynamics and the Standard Model. Heavy Quark Physics provides an exciting introduction to this new area of high energy physics. Two leading experts in the field review the standard model, the basics of heavy quark spin-flavor symmetry, and detail how it can be applied to the classification of states, decays and fragmentation. The heavy quark effective theory is developed, including the radiative and 1/mQ corrections, 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. To aid the reader, many of the key calculations are performed step by step, and problems are provided at the end of each chapter. This lucid volume provides graduate students with an ideal introduction to the physics of heavy quarks, and more experienced researchers with an authoritative reference to the subject.