87958 - Quantum Field Theory 1

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will learn the physical principles of relativistic quantum field theory and the related mathematical methods which are at the basis of the models describing the quantized scalar, spinor and vector fields, both in the massive and massless case. He/she will also reach a basic understanding of the space-time and internal symmetries which characterise the dynamics of such models.

Course contents

1) Space-time symmetries: Lorentz and Poincaré groups

2) Classical field theory: Euler-Lagrange equations, Noether's theorem and internal symmetries

3) Canonical quantisation of the real Klein-Gordon field

4) Canonical quantisation of the complex Klein-Gordon field

5) Canonical quantisation of the electromagnetic field

6) Canonical quantisation of the Proca field

7) Canonical quantisation of the Dirac field

8) Free propagators and Green functions for spin 0, 1 and 1/2 fields

Readings/Bibliography

1) "Quantum Field Theory", L. H. Ryder

2) "An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory", M. E. Peskin and D. V. Schroeder

3) "The Quantum Theory of Fields", Volume I, S. Weinberg

4) "Quantum Field Theory" lectures notes by David Tong:

http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/tong/qft/qft.pdf

5) "Quantum Field Theory" lecture notes by Timo Weigand:

https://www.thphys.uni-heidelberg.de/~weigand/QFT2-14/SkriptQFT2.pdf

Teaching methods

Standard blackboard lectures

Assessment methods

Written exam: exercises + theory questions

Office hours

See the website of Michele Cicoli