PHYSICS

Master Degree

QUANTUM FIELD THEORY II

Teachers: 
GRIGUOLO Luca
Credits: 
6
Site: 
PARMA
Year of erogation: 
2020/2021
Unit Coordinator: 
GRIGUOLO Luca
Disciplinary Sector: 
THEORETICAL PHYSICS, MATHEMATICAL MODELS AND METHODS
Semester: 
First semester
Year of study: 
2

Learning outcomes of the course unit

The main theme of this course is the ideas and applications of quantum gauge theories to particle physics. The goal is to compute the beta function in non- Abelian gauge theories and discuss asymptotic freedom.
At the end of this course, the student will possess the main knowledges of relativistic quantum field theory, especially as regards quantization and renormalization of non abelian gauge theories. The student will become acquainted with the basic principles of the Standard Model of electroweak and strong interactions. At the end of this course, the student will possess the main knowledges concerning some advanced tools of the relativistic quantum field theory.

Prerequisites

Canonical and path-integral quantization of scalar fields. Feynman rules for scalar theories.

Course contents summary

Advanced aspects of quantum Field Theory: including perturbative renormalization, quantization of non-abelian gauge theories and spontaneous symmetry breaking

Course contents

Renormalization: regularization and UV divergencies, renormalized perturbation theory, renormalization group, Callan-Symanzik equation.

Quantum effective action: physical meaning, 1PI verte, effective potential, spontaneous symmetry breaking and Nambu-Goldstone theorem.

Abelian gauge theories: vector field and spinor field and their quantization, canonical and path-integral. QED: tree amplitudes. QED: one-loop effects, renormaliztion, beta-function and Landau pole.

Non-abelian gauge theories: continous symmetries and Lie groups. SU(N) and representations. Non-abelian lagrangian and its path-integral quantization. Ghost fields, beta-function and asymptotic freedom. BRST and unitarity. Anomalies.

Recommended readings

M. Peskin, D Schroeder, ‘‘An Introduction to quantum filed theory’,
Addison Welsey ed.
Stefan Pokorski Gauge field theory (Cambridge University Press)
Mark Srednicki: Quantum Field Theory (Cambridge University Press) (see
also: http://www.physics.ucsb.edu/~mark/qft.html)

Teaching methods

Lectures and home-works to be discussed in classroom

Assessment methods and criteria

Written examination and seminars on particular topics.