Advanced Quantum Mechanics — Physics 721

[Quantum Field Theory]

 

Fall Semester 2009

 

Also available at   http://physics.wm.edu/~carlson/phys721.html

 

Goals:  Learn to

¥Combine quantum mechanics with special relativity,

¥Describe creation and destruction of matter and other physical states,

¥Calculate decay rates and scattering probabilities when states are created or destroyed and relativity is important.

 

General Information

 

Professor Carl E. Carlson

Class meets: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 AM – 11:45 AM, Millington Hall, Room 25

 

Office:  Small 219 (enter through 221)

E-mail:  carlson@physics.wm.edu

Telephone:  221--3509

Office hours:  Tuesday 11:00--12:00

 

Text:  M. Peskin and D. Schroeder, Quantum Field Theory

(misprints are listed at http://physics.weber.edu/schroeder/qftbook.html )

 

Recommended extra text: F. Gross, Relativistic Quantum Mechanics and Field Theory

 

Other books (listed by author):

¥ S. Weinberg (3 vol.), The Quantum Theory Of Fields, Foundations/Modern Applications/Supersymmetry.

¥ J. Bjorken and S. Drell (2 volumes), Relativistic quantum mechanics/Relativistic quantum fields

¥ Pierre Ramond, Field Theory: A Modern Primer

¥ J. J. Sakurai, Advanced Quantum Mechanics

¥ C. Itzykson and J. Zuber, Quantum Field Theory

 

Homework: Given out roughly every other Tuesday (possibly more often), due 1 week later.

 

Midterm Exam: 15 October 2009---if in class.  May be take-home.

 

Final Exam:  Friday, December 11, 9:00 AM

 

Grading: 30% midterm, 50% final, 20% homework


Lecture list for Physics 721: Advanced Quantum Mechanics (Field Theory)

Fall 2009

 

Lecture

Date

Topic

1

27 August

Relativistic notation and Lorentz group

2

1 September

Klein-Gordon eq., Lagrangian, Noether thm., QM of cont. media

3

3

Commutation rel., QM solutions for free KG eqn., H, P

4

8

General commutation relations, propagator  HW1_solution

5

10

Dirac equation

6

15

Lorentz transformations

7

17

Free solutions, bilinears

8

22

QM of Dirac field, anticommutators

9

24

H, P, states

10

29

Discrete symmetries: Parity    HW3_solution

11

1 October

T and C

12

6

Dirac propagator                     HW4_solution

13

8

Interactions, perturbation thy, time development, Wick theorem

 

15

Midterm Exam               2009_Midterm with solution

14

20

Feynman diagrams

15

22

Scattering amplitudes

16

27

Cross sections

17

29

Fermion Feynman rules, Yukawa theory

18

3 November

QED: example of e+e ¨ m+m-, trace theorems

19

5

e+e ¨ m+m- with spin, Mandelstam variables, crossing

20

10

Compton scattering

21

12

Higher order corrections, general remarks, bremsstrahlung

22

17

Bremsstrahlung II

23

19

Electron vertex correction

24

24

Magnetic moment correction

25

1 December

Charge renormalization

26

3

Infrared divergence elimination

 

11 (Fri.)

Final Exam,  9:00 AM