Matter-antimatter oscillations and CP violation as manifested through quantum mysteries

Meson-antimeson oscillations are a pure quantum phenomenon involving many of quantum mechanics' 'spooky' features like state mixing and EPR correlations; the subtle implementation of (approximate) symmetries also plays a crucial role. The analysis of oscillations represents a high sensitivity probe of nature's fundamental forces and at the same time provides experimental validation of subtle features of quantum mechanics. The theoretical framework and experimental signatures are described in detail. Meson-antimeson oscillations have also formed essential ingredients in the discovery of CP violation, a delicate, yet profound feature of our universe. These phenomena have been crucial for the evolution of the Standard Model of high energy physics and have more recently provided impressive validation for its CKM dynamics. Nevertheless these successes do not invalidate the arguments for the Standard Model being incomplete already at 'nearby' energy scales. Oscillation phenomena and CP violation open up new portals for the emergence of the anticipated new physics. Other incarnations of matter-antimatter oscillations, as for neutrons, are briefly commented on. © 2007 IOP Publishing Ltd.