Table of Contents

Preface; Acknowledgments; 1. Introduction; 2. Symmetry; 3. The quantum world; 4. Towards QCD; 5. The one number of QCD; 6. The gregarious gluon; 7. Quarks and hadrons; 8. Quarks under the microscope; 9. Much ado about nothing; 10. Checkerboard QCD; Appendix 1. A QCD chronology; Appendix 2. Greek alphabet and SI prefixes; Appendix 3. Glossary; Appendix 4. Further reading; Index.

Promotional Information

Fascinating and inspiring book: the story of one of the four forces controlling our universe.

About the Author

Andrew Watson is a freelance science journalist and writer. After his PhD in theoretical physics, from the University of Manchester, he went on to do physics research and lecturing. He now combines working part-time as a scientist at the Institute of Food Research with writing. He has written for a range of publications from popular magazines and newspapers to scientific journals, and is a regular contributor to Science magazine.

Reviews

Review of the hardback: 'A refreshingly new and attractive account of particle physics in general and QCD in particular.' Professor Donald H. Perkins, University of Oxford

Review of the hardback: 'Andrew Watson's book acquaints the reader with quantum chromodynamics in a comprehensive, systematic and enjoyable way. Historical interludes are combined with qualitative presentations of the basic issues to create a single clear-cut and colorful picture of the development of this theory and its present-day status. This book is one of the best examples of the popular literature devoted to theoretical physics.' Professor Mikhail Shifman, University of Minnesota

Review of the hardback: '… it is a very complete account of the ideas and experiments that led to the development of this theory and its verification. As such, it may appeal to anybody willing to take the time and make the effort to understand the basis for last year's prize … I suggest that you persuade your library to buy Watson's book …' Nature

Review of the hardback: 'Everything you need to know about QCD is there, remarkably without equations.' Contemporary Physics

From the hardback review: 'Watson does a good job in describing this strange world and in leading the reader to the idea of QCD itself.' Physics World

'Readers who want to find out about particle physics in the sense of current experiments may find this book helpful, as it is very readable.' Professor Frank Close, Oxford University