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Quantum Field Theory

Vak
2024-2025

Admission Requirements

Prerequisites: Effective Field Theory, Quantum Theory.

Description

Building on the courses Effective Field Theory and Quantum Theory, this is a first course in the Quantum Theory of Fields, which allows particle creation and annihilation and can also consistently unify special relativity with quantum mechanics.

Course Objectives

  • Quantum Mechanics from a Lagrangian perspective

  • The path integral

  • Scalar Quantum Field Theory

  • Spin and the Lorentz Group

  • The Dirac Equation

  • The theory of Quantum-ElectroDynamics

  • Perturbation theory and elementary scattering processes

  • Regularization and Renormalization

Timetable

Physics Schedule
For detailed information go to Timetable in Brightspace

You will find the timetables for all courses and degree programmes of Leiden University in the tool MyTimetable (login). Any teaching activities that you have sucessfully registered for in MyStudyMap will automatically be displayed in MyTimeTable. Any timetables that you add manually, will be saved and automatically displayed the next time you sign in.

MyTimetable allows you to integrate your timetable with your calendar apps such as Outlook, Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and other calendar apps on your smartphone. Any timetable changes will be automatically synced with your calendar. If you wish, you can also receive an email notification of the change. You can turn notifications on in ‘Settings’ (after login).

For more information, watch the video or go the the 'help-page' in MyTimetable. Please note: Joint Degree students Leiden/Delft have to merge their two different timetables into one. This video explains how to do this.

Mode of instruction

See Brightspace

Assessment method

There will be seven weekly problem assignments due one week after hand-out.
The final grade will be composed as follows:

  • 60% Problem assignments (without counting the lowest grade)

  • 40% Final exam (but you must pass the Final to pass the course)

The final exam date is a two-day take-home exam.

Reading list

Required:
M. Srednicki, Quantum Field Theory, Cambridge University Press, 2007.
R. Rattazzi: The Path Integral approach to Quantum Mechanics, http://itp.epfl.ch/webdav/site/itp/users/174685/private/RevisedLectureNotesV2.pdf Recommended:
M.E. Peskin, D.V. Schroeder: An introduction to Quantum Field Theory, Westview Press, 1995.

Registration

As a student, you are responsible for registering for each course component. This can be done via Mystudymap. You do this twice a year: once for the courses you want to take in semester 1 and once for the courses you want to take in semester 2.

Registration for courses in the first semester is possible from July onwards; registration for courses in the second semester is possible from December onwards. For more information, see this page

Please note that it is mandatory for all students to register for their exams. This can be done up to and including 10 calendar days prior to the exam or up to five calendar days in case of a retake exam (retake registration opens 30 days before the retake takes place). You cannot participate in the exam or retake without a valid registration in My Studymap.

Contact

Lecturer Prof.dr. K.E. Schalm

Remarks