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.
Topics:
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
Course objectives
Upon completion op of this course you will be able to:
Understand the time slicing procedure to derive path integral as the Lagrangian formulation of quantum mechanics;
Know the basic Lagrangians of spin-0 scalar, spin-1/2-fermion, Abelian spin 1 vector fields;
Read off the Feynman rules from a Lagrangian and compute physical scattering processes from on-shell cross-sections;
Regularize, renormalize and compute 1-loop quantum corrections in Quantum Electrodynamics in particular.
Schedule
The timetables are available through My Timetable (see the button in the upper right corner).
Teaching method
See Brightspace
Assesment method
The final grade will be determined as follows:
Midterm test 1 (30%)
Midterm test 2 (30%)
Final exam (40%)
Resit, review & feedback
Examinations are held twice during the academic year for each component offered in that academic year. Midterm tests cannot be retaken. The Board of Examiners determines the manner of resit for practical assignments.
For review and feedback, see Brightspace.
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
Enrolment through MyStudyMap (button in upper right corner) is mandatory. General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer(s) (listed in the right information bar).
Remarks
Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.