Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
---|---|---|---|
4313861 High Energy Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology | OT | 0 | 1 |
It is recommended to have followed the course Introduction to the Physics of the Cosmos, and be familiar with classical field theory and special relativity.
The main purpose of this course is to learn the basic concepts and techniques behind the theory of quantum fields, with aplications to elementary particle physics, in particular Quantum Electrodynamics.
1. Introduction
(a) Fock space. Asymptotic states
(b) Poincare group and Lorentz group
(c) Associated Lie algebra
(d) One particle irreducible representation. Wigner method. Little group.
Spin, helicity. Massive and massless case
(e) Natural units
2. Interaction
(a) Cross Section and S matrix
(b) Decays and S matrix
(c) Interaction picture and S matrix
(d) Motivation for causal (free) fields
(e) Poincare symmetry and S matrix
(f) Wick theorem
3. Fields for particles with spin
(a) SL(2,C) and non-unitary irreducible representations of the Lorentz group
(b) Dirac field: construction. Propagator, symmetries, spin: helicity and
quirality. Spin-statistics theorem
(c) Field for a massive spin-one particle: Proca field
(d) Field for a massless spin-one particle: Electromagnetic field
4. Quantum Electrodynamics (QED)
(a) Quantization of QED
(b) S-matrix to O(e^2).
• Elementary processes of QED to tree level: Compton scattering,
e+e− → e+e−, e+e− → μ+μ−, ...
• Feynman diagrams and computational techniques: traces, spin, ...
(c) Generalized Feynman rules
(d) About gauge invariance. Examples of Ward identity
(e) Non relativistic limit of QED
(f) Soft Bremsstrahlung (*)
5. Beyond tree level. Introduction
(a) Infinities and dimensional regularization
(b) Vacuum polarization
(c) Renormalization of the electric charge
(d) Optical theorem
(e) Dispersion relations
(f) Bound states in Quantum Field Theory: Hydrogen-like atoms (*)
(g) Renormalization of QED (*)
6. Beyond perturbation theory (*)
(a) LSZ formalism and crossing symmetry (examples)
There will be teaching lectures where the theory will be explained in detail.
There will be teaching lectures where a selection of the list of exercises will be discussed.
The student should digest at home the theory explained in class, and perform the list of exercises suggested during the lectures.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|
Type: Directed | |||
Theory and problems | 45 | 1.8 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Type: Autonomous | |||
Study, exercises | 84 | 3.36 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Exam: 50%
Exercises delivery: 40%
Pariticipation in class and oral presentation of some exercises: 10%
Make-up exam: 50%. Necessary condition: To have 3.5 or more in the previous final mark.
Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Exam | 50% | 3 | 0.12 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Exercises delivery | 30% | 15 | 0.6 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Oral presentations and active attendance in class | 20% | 3 | 0.12 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
• A. Cornellà and J.I. Latorre, Teoria clàssica de camps
• D. Lurie, Particles and Fields
• S. Weinberg, The Quantum Theory of Fields
• L.H. Ryder, Quantum Field Theory
• F.J. Yndurain, Elements of grup theory. https://arxiv.org/pdf/0710.0468
• C. Itzykson and J. Zuber, Quantum Field Theory
• B. Hatfield, Quantum Field Theory of Point Particles and Strings
• S. Pokorsky, Gauge Field Theories
• M. Peskin and D. Schroeder, An introduction to Quantum Field Theory
• J.F. Donoghue, E. Golowich, B.R. Holstein, Dynamics of the Standard Model
General calculus programs like Mathematica