A Brief Introduction to Particle Interactions

Abstract

I give a brief introduction to particle interactions based on representations of Poincare Lie algebra. This is later generalized to interactions based on representations of the supersymmetry Lie algebra. Globally supersymmetric models with internal symmetry and locally supersymmetric models leading to supergravity theories are presented. I also discuss higher dimensional supergravity theories and some of their applications.

Series of lectures given at the Summer School "Dirac Operators: Yesterday and Today" held at CAMS, American University of Beirut, August 27-September 7, 2001. 37 pages