Abstract
Abstract This chapter explains why symmetries play a pivotal role in particle and nuclear physics. It discussed continuous and discrete symmetries in quantum mechanics and clarifies the origin of momentum and angular momentum conservation (the first Noether theorem). Among discrete symmetries, it details inversions: parity, C-parity, and T-parity. The empirical determination of the pion parity is illustrated by an ingenious experiment by Chinowsky and Steinberger. The chapter qualitatively explains the origin of antimatter, resorting to the CPT theorem. The first concept of relativistic quantum mechanics introduced in this book is the Dirac equation, which is presented here together with many examples that illustrate its features. The chapter clarifies the concept of spinor, a particularly difficult concept for novices to grasp.
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