Physics 616

Quantum Field Theory I

Fall 2017

Home Page: http://www.pa.uky.edu/~gardner/p616/

TR: 9:30 - 10:45AM, CP 397

Syllabus


General Information:

Lecturer: Prof. Susan Gardner
Office: Chem-Phys 361
Phone: 257-4391
E-mail: gardner at pa dot uky dot edu
Office Hours: Tuesday, Thursday 10:45 AM - noon and by appointment.

Required textbook:
M. E. Peskin and D. V. Schroeder, Introduction to Quantum Field Theory (1995)

Recommended textbooks:
M. D. Schwartz, Quantum Field Theory and the Standard Model (2014)
A. Zee, Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell (2010)

Course Description and Prerequisites

Phy 616 is the first part of a two-semester introduction to quantum field theory. Quantum field theory synthesizes quantum mechanics and relativity with the field concept familiar from classical electrodynamics. It was first developed to realize rigorous, quantitative predictions in particle physics, though it has grown and evolved to provide a basis for much of modern theoretical physics. We can use quantum field theory, e.g., to describe elements of critical phenomena in statistical systems.

The course largely follows Peskin and Schroeder in structure and content, referring to Schwartz for further theoretical fundamentals and to Zee for far-flung application and inspiration. The goals of this semester is an understanding of the basic tenets of quantum field theory and the development and implementation of some of its basic tools.

A knowledge of quantum mechanics, at the level of Physics 614 and 615, is required. Knowledge of classical electrodynamics at the level of Physics 611 and 613, and of classical mechanics at the level of Physics 504, is also recommended.

A bevy of texts, of varying sophistication and coverage of applications, exist in the literature. An annotated bibliography of them has been included in the course web site. The course textbooks, as well as selections from the bibliography just mentioned, should be available on reserve in the Science library.

Course Topics:

Relativistic Covariance
The Klein-Gordon Field
Symmetries and Conservation Laws
The Dirac Field
Quantization
Discrete Symmetries
Interacting Fields and Perturbation Theory
Feynman Diagrams and Feynman Rules
Elementary Scattering Processes
Quantum Electrodynamics
Radiative Corrections

Note that the course continues into a second semester, via Phy 716, Quantum Field Theory II.

Course Grades

Your grade will be determined in the following manner: problem sets (60%), final project, which will be administrated as a take-home exam (40%).

In working the final project you may consult your textbooks (both the required and recommended texts), and you may ask your professor questions. You should not work the exam in a group, indeed you should not consult other students in the course concerning it, nor should you scour the internet for its solution. You will given several days to work on it.

A significant portion of the course grade is associated with the problem sets, and rightly so. Working problem sets is necessary to develop a genuine understanding of the material. You may discuss the problems with others, and even collaborate, but you are required to write out your solutions independently. The problem sets will be issued in one-two week intervals, and late work (if no excusable reason exists) will not be accepted.

Examples of excusable absences are (University Senate Rules section 5.2.4.2 ):

It is good for you to discuss the course material with others, but you really must perform all your course work *independently*. You should write out your solutions by yourself, expressing your solutions in your own words. Cheating and plagiarism in tests or exams, indeed, in all aspects of the course, are very serious academic offenses. Violators of the academic code are subject to punishment in accordance to University Senate Rules sections 6.3 and 6.4.

The percentage of total course points you earn will determine your grade in the course. The following guidelines should help you interpret your performance throughout the course of the semester. Typically, a student who earns in excess of 80% of the available points can expect to receive an ``A,'' whereas a student who earns in excess of 60%, but less than 80%, of the available points can expect to receive a ``B.'' A student who earns in excess of 45%, but less than 60%, of the available points can expect to receive a ``C''. The following condition supercedes the indicated guidelines. Irrespective of your total earned points, in order to pass the class, you must earn a passing grade on the final project.

On-line Course Evaluations

Course evaluations are an important (and mandatory!) component of our Department's instructional program. An on-line course evaluation system has been developed to allow each student ample time to evaluate each component of the course and instructor, thus providing the Department with meaningful numerical scores and detailed commentary while minimizing the loss of instructional time in the classroom. The "Teacher Course Evaluation" (TCE) window will open 15 days before the Monday of finals week.

Intellectual Property Rights

The University of Kentucky recognizes that a faculty member's class and all pieces of that, lectures, assignments, etc., are the intellectual property of the faculty member. The University will act to protect the faculty member's rights in this regard. The PHY 616 class lectures are the intellectual property of Prof. Gardner. A student may record ONLY for her/his personal use, and that for any other use, including sharing with other students in the class, specific permission of Prof. Gardner is required. Recording for any business/commercial purpose is a violation of federal IP (copyright) law as well as a violation of the faculty employee's class policy (syllabus) and, thus, is strictly prohibited.

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This page was created by Susan Gardner and was last updated on August 28, 2017.