Description |
Though immensely successful, the Standard Model of particle physics leaves too many important questions unanswered for it to be considered a complete theory of nature. Many of these questions are in the domain of `flavour', which concerns the puzzling multi-generational structure of the matter particles, and the transitions that the particles undergo within and between these generations. I present an overview of these issues, before focusing on the experimental efforts to make progress, with particular emphasis on the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, and the Belle II experiment in Japan. I assert that flavour studies are the most interesting and important area of research in current high-energy physics, and that these studies offer the most promising avenue for advancing our understanding of fundamental science.
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