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Research School of Physics · ANU College of Science and Medicine
This course provides an introduction to the concepts and tools of quantum field theory (QFT) and to its applications in various fields, such as particle physics and condensed matter. QFT is arguably the most far-reaching attempt to combine special relativity and quantum physics in a unique framework. This course builds on the content of previous courses on Classical and Quantum Mechanics, Electromagnetism, and Statistical Physics, providing an elegant synthesis of these key areas of modern Physics. We explain in this course the origin of particles (why are all electrons identical?), forces (why same charge repel while gravitation is attractive?) and antiparticles. The Feynman path integral formalism is used, leading to Klein-Gordon, Maxwell and Dirac equations. Feynman diagrams to describe interacting fields are also introduced. The concepts of Gauge Invariance, spontaneous symmetry breaking, as well as the Goldstone and Higgs mechanisms are introduced in a general context, and applied, e.g., to describe superfluidity, superconductivity and ferromagnetism. This course is co-taught with undergraduate students but assessed separately.
Assignments
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Final written exam
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10
Research topic oral presentation
Learning outcomes 10, 11
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including: - Face-to face component which will consist of 1 x 3 hour workshop per week. - Approximately 94 hours of self-study which will include listening/viewing the online lectures, preparation for the weekly online lectures, workshops/labs and other assessment tasks. This is a flipped class.
TBC Preliminary Reading "Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell", by A. Zee (2nd ed., 2010) "Quantum Field Theory for the Gifted Amateur", by T. Lancaster and S. Blundell (2015)