PHY 5669: Quantum Field Theory B

Lectures: 11:00-12:15, Tuesday and Thursday, in HCB 217.

Professor : Laura Reina, 510 Keen Building, 644-9282, e-mail: click here

Text :

Other suggested reference books: For a very broad and intriguing introduction to quantum field theory:

Topics:

In PHY 5667 (QFT A) we studied the quantization of spin-zero fields, including renormalization and the renormalization group equations. We then introduced the quantization of spin-one fields and discussed scalar electrodynamics, including quantum corrections. In PHY 5669 (QFT B) we will start by studying the quantization of spin 1/2 fields, which will allow us to discuss in detail spinor quantum electrodynamics (QED). We will then introduce non-abelian gauge theories and specialize our discussion to quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Finally, we will study spontaneously broken gauge theories and discuss the Standard Model of particle physics. Here is a summary of the topics that have been covered in class so far or that will be covered in the next coming lectures:

Date Topics covered Reference
01/08 Syllabus. Introduction to spinor representations of the Lorentz group. [Text] (Sec. 33), [SW](Ch. 5)
01/12 Weyl spinors and their properties. [Text](Secs. 34-35), [SW] (Ch. 5)
01/14 Lagrangians for spinor fields: Weyl and Majorana fields. Dirac equation. [Text](Sec. 36), [SW](Ch. 5)
01/19 Lagrangian for Dirac fields: conserved Noether current. C-conjugation. [Text](Sec. 36), [SW](Ch. 5)
01/21 Solutions of the Dirac equation: spinor structure and properties. Spin sums, spin projection matrices. [Text](Sec. 38), [PS] (Ch. 3)
01/26 Canonical quantization of spinor fields. [Text](Secs. 37, 39), [PS] (Ch. 3)
01/28 P,T,C symmetries for spinor fields. LSZ reduction for spin one-half fields. [Text](Sec. 40, 41), [PS] (Ch. 3)
02/02 Free fermion propagator. [Text](Sec. 42), [PS] (Ch. 3)
02/04 Path integral quantization for fermion fields. [Text](Sec. 43-44)
02/09 Feynman rules for Dirac fields, part I. [Text](Sec. 45)
02/11 Feynman rules for Dirac fields, part II. Scattering amplitudes in Yukawa theory. [Text](Sec. 45)
02/16 Spin averaged cross sections. [Text](Secs. 46-48)
02/18 Spinor electrodynamics: construction from symmetry principles. Feynman rules. [Text](Sec. 58)
02/22 Make-up class (11:00 a.m., 707 Keen) Tree level spinor electrodynamics. [Text](Secs. 57, 59)
02/23 No class
02/25 No class
03/02 Spinor electrodynamics: loop corrections, Part I. [Text](Sec. 62)
03/04 Spinor electrodynamics: loop corrections, Part II. [Text](Secs. 63-64)
03/08 Make-up class: beta-function of QED. Ward identities in QED. [Text](Secs. 66-68)
03/16 Non-abelian gauge theories: introduction. [Text](Sec. 69)
03/18 Non-abelian gauge theories: path integral quantization. [Text](Sec. 71)
03/23 Non-abelian gauge theories: Feynman rules. [Text](Sec. 72)
03/25 Non-abelian gauge theories: renormalization and explicit 1-loop structure. [Text](Sec. 73)
03/30 Non-abelian gauge theories: beta function, confinement/asymtotic freedom. [Text](Sec. 73)
04/01 Special topic class: : lattice gauge theory. Recommended: : read Sec. 82. [Text](Sec. 82)
04/06 Ghost fields and unitarity. BRST symmetry. [PS] (Ch. 16), [Text](Sec. 74)
04/08 Spontaneous symmetry breaking of global symmetries. [Text](Sec. 30)
04/13 Special topic class: : lattice gauge theory. Recommended: : read Sec. 82. [Text](Sec. 82)
04/15 Broken symmetry and loop corrections. The quantum action. [Text](Secs. 21, 31)
04/20 Spontaneous symmetry breaking of gauge symmetries: abelian and non-abelian cases. [Text](Secs. 84-86)
04/22 The Standard Model case. [Text](Secs. 87-89)

Office Hours: Tuesday, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

You are also welcome to contact me whenever you have questions, either by e-mail or in person.

Homework:

A few homeworks will be assigned during the semester, tentatively every other week. The assignments and their solutions will be posted on this homepage.

Exams and Grades.

The grade will be based 70% on the homework and 30% on the Final Exam, and will be roughly determined according to the following criterium:

100-85% : A or A-
84-70% : B- to B+
below 70% : C

Attendance, participation, and personal interest will also be important factors in determining your final grade, and will be used to the discretion of the instructor.

The Final Exam is now available. It is a take-home exam, and will have to be turned in by Friday, April 30th, 2010 at the latest.

Attendance. Regular, responsive and active attendance is highly recommended. A student absent from class bears the full responsibility for all subject matter and information discussed in class.

Absence. Please inform me in advance of any excused absence (e.g., religious holiday) on the day an assignment is due. In case of unexpected absences, due to illness or other serious problems, we will discuss the modality with which you will turn in any missed assignment on a case by case basis.

Assistance. Students with disabilities needing academic accommodations should: 1) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC); 2) bring a letter to me from SDRC indicating you need academic accommodations and what they are. This should be done within the first week of class. This and other class materials are available in alternative format upon request.

Honor Code. Students are expected to uphold the Academic Honor Code published in the Florida State University Bulletin and the Student Handbook. The first paragraph reads: The Academic Honor System of Florida State University is based on the premise that each student has the responsibility (1) to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity in the student's own work, (2) to refuse to tolerate violations of academic integrity in the University community, and (3) to foster a high sense of integrity and social responsibility on the part of the University community.

Laura Reina
Last modified: Tue Dec 4 13:54:45 EST 2007