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 consistently unifies special relativity with quantum mechanics, and allows the description of many simultaneously quantized excitations.
Course Objectives
A basic understanding of the topics listed below, including the ability to do computations of the most important effects.
Quantum Mechanics from a Lagrangian perspective
The path integral
Spin and the Lorentz Group
The Dirac Equation
The theory of Quantum-ElectroDynamics
Perturbation theory and elementary scattering processes
Introduction to Renormalization, the renormallization group and the connection with critical phenomena
Timetable
Mode of instruction
Lectures
Weekly problem sets (except the first and last week).
Assessment method
7 Weekly problem sets:60% of final grade
Final exam:40% of final grade.
Only the final exam can be retaken.
Blackboard
Course material including weekly problem asssigments are also available on Blackboard..
To have access to Blackboard you need a ULCN-account.Blackboard UL
Reading list
Primary text books (required)
1. M. Srednicki, Quantum Field Theory, Cambridge University Press, 2007.
2. R. Rattazzi: The Path Integral approach to Quantum Mechanics, http://itp.epfl.ch/webdav/site/itp/users/174685/private/RevisedLectureNotesV2.pdf
Secondary text book (not required): M.E. Peskin, D.V. Schroeder: An introduction to Quantum Field Theory, Westview Press, 1995.
Contact
Lecturer Prof.dr.Ana Achucarro