This volume is a unique report on the frontiers of subnuclear physics presented by global specialists in a clear and rigorous style.The question of Lattice QCD is presented by R D Kenway, and that of Quark-Gluon Plasma Physics by F Karsch. Quantum Field theory is discussed by R G Dijkgraff, and the status of Local Supersymmetry by M J Duff. Detailed analysis of Supersymmetry in Nuclei is made by F Iachello, and that of Inflation, Dark Matter and Dark Energy by E W Kolb. Compactified dimensions are outlined by I Antoniadis, Horizons in the quantization of the gravitational force by Nobel Laureate G 't Hooft, as also are Neutrino Oscillations by G Fogli and Fundamental Constants by H Fritzsch. The experimental data from BNL and Babar are presented by T W Ludlum and M A Giorgi, those from Fermilab and Hera by Parke and G Wolf. The status at CERN is given by L Maiani for the LHC and by W-D Schlatter for the non-LHC experiments. Highlights from Gran Sasso are presented by A Bettini. This volume also contains reports by a selected group of “new talents” on various topics in the field of subnuclear physics.The proceedings have been selected for coverage in:• Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings® (ISTP® / ISI Proceedings)• Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings (ISTP CDROM version / ISI Proceedings)• CC Proceedings — Engineering & Physical Sciences

This 2nd edition is an extensive update of "B Decays?. The revisions are necessary because of the extensive amount of new data and new theoretical ideas. This book reviews what is known about b-quark decays and also looks at what can be learned in the future.The importance of this research area is increasing, as evidenced by the approval of the luminosity upgrade for CESR and the asymmetric B factories at SLAC and KEK, and the possibility of experiments at hadron colliders.The key experimental observations made thus far, measurement of the lifetimes of the different B species, B0-B0 mixing, the discovery of ?Penguin? mediated decays, and the extraction of the CKM matrix elements Vub and Vcb from semileptonic decays, as well as more mundane results, are described in great detail by the experimentalists who have been closely involved with making the measurements. Theoretical progress in understanding b-quark decays using HQET and lattice gauge techniques are described by theorists who have developed and used these techniques.Synthesizing the experimental and theoretical information, several articles discuss the implications for the ?Standard Model? and how further tests can be done using measurements of CP violation in the B system.

This first open access volume of the handbook series contains articles on the standard model of particle physics, both from the theoretical and experimental perspective. It also covers related topics, such as heavy-ion physics, neutrino physics and searches for new physics beyond the standard model. A joint CERN-Springer initiative, the "Particle Physics Reference Library" provides revised and updated contributions based on previously published material in the well-known Landolt-Boernstein series on particle physics, accelerators and detectors (volumes 21A, B1,B2,C), which took stock of the field approximately one decade ago. Central to this new initiative is publication under full open access