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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Physics and Astronomy : Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy)

Undergraduate Course: Relativistic Quantum Field Theory (PHYS11021)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Physics and Astronomy CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Year 5 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThis course begins with a review of relativistic wave equations. It introduces the Lagrangian formulation for classical fields and then discusses the 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.
Course description - Introduction and revision
- Classical Lagrangian field theory.
- Lorentz covariance of relativistic field equations.
- Quantisation of the Klein-Gordon field.
- Quantisation of the Dirac field.
- The Electromagnetic field.
- Interacting fields.
- Feynman diagrams.
- Transition rates and cross-sections.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Lagrangian Dynamics (PHYS10015) AND Methods of Mathematical Physics (PHYS10034) AND Quantum Theory (PHYS11019) AND Classical Electrodynamics (PHYS11045) AND Symmetries of Quantum Mechanics (PHYS10083)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements At least 80 credit points accrued in courses of SCQF Level 9 or 10 drawn from Schedule Q.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Understand relativistic wave equations for spin 0, 1/2 and 1 fields
  2. Quantise fields using canonical commutaion relations, and understand the particle interpretation using raising and lowering operators
  3. Understand the interation picture, the S-matrix, and Wick's theorem
  4. Derive the Feynman rules for QED, and use them to compute amplitudes
  5. Compute elementary deacy rates and cross-sections in QED
Reading List
Quantum Field Theory (2nd Edition), Franz Mandl, and Graham Shaw (Wiley, 2010)
Quantum Field Theory, Michael Peskin and Daniel Schroeder, (Westview Press, 1995)
The Quantum Theory of Fields, Steven Weinberg (Cambridge, 2005)
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information Workshop/tutorial sessions, as arranged.
KeywordsRQFT
Contacts
Course organiserProf Richard Ball
Tel: (0131 6)50 5248
Email: R.D.Ball@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Wendy Hisbent
Tel: (0131 6)50 5783
Email: w.hisbent@ed.ac.uk
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