It's great to hear that you're passionate about particle physics! There are various resources available that can help you learn about this fascinating field from scratch. Here are a few suggestions:
Textbooks: A good starting point is to explore introductory textbooks on particle physics. Some popular choices include "Introduction to Elementary Particles" by David Griffiths, "Modern Particle Physics" by Mark Thomson, and "Quarks and Leptons: An Introductory Course in Modern Particle Physics" by Francis Halzen and Alan D. Martin.
Online Courses: Platforms like Coursera, edX, and Udemy offer online courses on particle physics. Courses like "Introduction to Particle Physics" by the University of Geneva, "Particle Physics: an Introduction" by the University of Melbourne, and "Modern Physics: Particle Physics" by Stanford University are excellent resources for self-study.
Lecture Notes: Many universities make lecture notes and course materials available online. You can search for lecture notes on particle physics from renowned institutions such as MIT OpenCourseWare, Stanford University, and CERN's Open Educational Resources.
Online Resources: Websites like the Particle Data Group (pdg.lbl.gov) provide comprehensive information on particle physics, including particle properties, experimental data, and reviews. The CERN website (home.cern) offers a wealth of resources, including articles, videos, and publications, to learn about the latest developments in particle physics.
Online Forums and Communities: Engaging with online communities can be a valuable resource for learning and discussing particle physics. Platforms like Reddit have dedicated communities such as r/ParticlePhysics and r/Physics where you can ask questions, participate in discussions, and interact with fellow enthusiasts and experts.
Research Papers and Reviews: Exploring research papers and review articles in particle physics journals can give you a deeper understanding of current research and developments. Journals like Physical Review D, Journal of High Energy Physics, and Reviews of Modern Physics are excellent sources for scholarly articles.
Remember to approach the material gradually and build your understanding step by step. Particle physics can be complex, so be patient with the learning process. It's also beneficial to familiarize yourself with the mathematical tools used in the field, such as quantum mechanics and special relativity, if you haven't already.
Additionally, if you have the opportunity, consider reaching out to professors or researchers at your institution who specialize in particle physics. They may be able to provide guidance, recommend resources, or even suggest research opportunities or internships.
Best of luck with your exploration of particle physics! It's an exciting field with countless discoveries waiting to be made.