Relativistic Quantum Field Theory (VS1) (U02596)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : PHY-5-VRelQFT

This 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.

Entry Requirements

? This course is only available to part year visiting students.

? This course is a variant of the following course : U01440

? Pre-requisites : Year 3/4 Mathematical Physics, including Lagrangian Dynamics, Methods of Mathematical Physics, Quantum Theory, Relativistic Electrodynamics, and Tensors & Fields (desirable), or equivalent.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Undergraduate (School of Physics), (School of Physics, Schedule Q)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 5th year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	12:10	13:00	KB
Lecture	Friday	12:10	13:00	KB

? Additional Class Information : Workshop/tutorial sessions, as arranged.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course a student will be able to:
1)Appreciate the need for a field-theoretical approach to relativistic quantum theory
2)Write down the Lagrangian and derive the field equations for scalar, spinor and vector fields, demonstrate Lorentz covariance of the field equations
3)Derive and appreciate the significance of Noether's theorem
4)Quantise the real and complex scalar fields using canonical commutation relations, derive the quantum Hamiltonian, interpret the spectrum, appreciate relativistic normalisation
5)Derive the conserved current and charge operators for the complex scalar field and explain the connection between charge conservation and symmetry
6)Derive the propagator for real and complex scalar fields
7)Quantise the Dirac field using anticommutators, derive the Hamiltonian, interpret the spectrum, derive the conserved current and charge operator, appreciate the connection between charge conservation and symmetry, derive the propagator for the Dirac field
8)Understand the difficulties of em field quantisation due to gauge invariance, quantise the EM field using the Gupta-Bleuler formalism, derive the Hamiltonian, spectrum, and propagator
9)Explain the minimal coupling presciption for adding electromagnetic interactions, understand the gauge principle
10)Understand the interaction picture, the S-matrix, Wick's Theorem
11)Explain the origin of Feynman diagrams and Feynman rules; draw the Feynman diagrams for Compton scattering, electron scattering, electron and photon self-energies
12)Apply the Feynman rules to derive the amplitudes for elementary processes in QED
13)Explain the origin of the expressions for the transition rate, decay rates and unpolarised cross section
14)Apply all of the above to unseen problems in relativistic quantum field theory