This subject introduces quantum field theory, the combination of quantum mechanics and relativity
that explains the fundamental structure of matter and the physics of the early universe. The course
has an emphasis on quantum electrodynamics.
Specific topics will include an introduction to classical
field theory, the Euler-Lagrange equations and Noether's theorem; the Dirac and Klein-Gordon
equations; the quantisation of free scalar, Dirac and vector fields; covariant perturbation theory, the Smatrix
and Feynman diagrams; the computation of elementary processes in quantum
electrodynamics.
Subject objectives
The objectives of this subject are:
- To introduce the basic ideas of quantum field theory
- To understand how quantum mechanics and special relativity combine to produce realistic theories
of particle creation and annihilation
- To develop calculational techniques to at least the level of tree-level Feynman diagrams for quantum
electrodynamics
- To provide the foundation for more advanced studies in quantum field theory