Undergraduate Course: Quantum Field Theory (PHYS11065)
Course Outline
| School | School of Physics and Astronomy |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Year 5 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course is an introduction to perturbative relativistic quantum field theory, for scalars, fermions, and gauge fields, in both the canonical and path integral formulations. |
| Course description |
The course begins with a review of relativistic wave equations. It introduces the Lagrangian formulation for classical fields and then discusses the canonical quantisation of free fields with spins 0, 1/2 and 1. An outline is given of perturbation theory for interacting fields and Feynman diagram methods for Quantum Electrodynamics are introduced. The course also introduces path integral methods in quantum field theory. This gives a better understanding of the quantisation of gauge theories and forms an essential tool for the understanding and development of the 'standard model' of particle physics. Topics include: Path integral formalism, Feynman rules, LSZ formalism, loop diagrams and regularisation and renormalization of divergencies.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2020/21, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 44,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 44,
Summative Assessment Hours 3,
Revision Session Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
103 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
100 %,
Coursework
0 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam 100% |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 3:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand relativistic wave equations for spin 0, 1/2 and 1 fields
- Understand the particle interpretation, the S-matrix, and Wick's theorem
- Use the Feynman rules for QED, to compute elementary cross-sections
- Understand the connection between the path integrals and the operator formalism
- Understand regularization and renormalization of divergences
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Reading List
"Quantum Field Theory" (2nd Edition), F. Mandl, and G. Shaw (Wiley, 2010)
"Introduction to Quantum Field Theory", M. Peskin and D. Schroeder, (Westview Press, 1995)
"The Quantum Theory of Fields", S. Weinberg (Cambridge, 2005)
"Quantum Field Theory," M. Srednicki, Cambridge University Press, 2007.
"Introduction to Gauge Field Theory'', D. Bailin and A. Love, Adam Hilger, 1986.
"Quantum Field Theory'', L.H. Ryder, Cambridge University Press, 1985.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | QFT,Quantum Field Theory |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Richard Ball
Tel: (0131 6)50 5248
Email: R.D.Ball@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Stephanie Blakey
Tel: (0131 6)68 8261
Email: steph.blakey@ed.ac.uk |
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