ELEMENTS OF QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
Academic year and teacher
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2016/2017
- Teacher
- MAURO MORETTI
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Secondo Semestre
- SSD
- FIS/02
Training objectives
- To provide an introduction to the basic theoretical tool of elementary particle physics: relativistic quantum field theory. The student should be able to write explicitly a lagrangian model, to quantize it and to perform the calculation of the most elementary calculations of a scattering process. This is illustrated within the framework of modern quantum electrodynamics. In this framework the student should also be able to appreciate the problems involved in more advanced theoretical aspects: renormalization and higher order perturbation theory.
Prerequisites
- A good knowledge of af analytical mechanics as well as quantum mechanics is assumed.
In particular: lagrangian formulation of classical mechanics, Schroedinger equation, exactly solvable models (wave packet propagation, armonic oscillator), time independent and time dependent perturbation theory. Course programme
- Lagrangian formulation for systems with infinitely many degrees of freedom: field theory, field equations and Noether theorem. Survey of the theory of Poincare group and its representation. Quantization of scalar (Klein Gordon), spinor (Dirac) and vector (Electromagnetic potential) field representation. Interacting theories: evolution matrix, Vick theorem, reduction formulas and S matrix. Path integral formulation of quantum field theories, Faddev-Popov approach to the quantization of gauge theories.
Covariant quantization of the vector potential and the removal of unphysical degrees of freedom. Elementary (tree level) calculations in quantum electrodynamics: compton scattering, bhabha scattering, photon pair produtioncs. One loop correction to electron scattering off a classical field: renormalization and treatment of infrared and collinear divergencies. Didactic methods
- Theoretical/practical lessons.
Learning assessment procedures
- Written/oral examination.
Reference texts
- Peskin and Schroeder
An introduction to quantum field theory
Ramond
Field Theory a Modern Primer
Itzikson and Zuber
Quantum Field Theory
Weinberg
The Quantum Theory of Fields
