FYSS4515 Applied Quantum Field Theory (11 cr)

Open the course unit brochure on Sisu
Study level:
Advanced studies
Grading scale:
0-5
Language:
English
Responsible organisation:
Department of Physics
Curriculum periods:
2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024

Description

  • Review of functional methods

  • Systematics of renormalization, BPHZ-method

  • Renormalization of QED and Ward identities, explicit 1-loop renormalization

  • Infrared divergences and soft brehmsstrahlung

  • Renormalization group: Wilsonian flow, Callan-Symantzik equation

  • Beta functions and anomalous dimensions, one-loop running of couplings

  • Renormalization of Yang-Mills theory, asymptotic freedom

  • Parton model and quark model for QCD

  • Critical phenomena and epsilon-expansion, critical exponents

  • Effective action and renormalization-group-improved effective potential

  • Renormalization of spontaneously broken theories

  • Standard model of electroweak interactions

  • Precision electroweak observables

  • Quantum anomalies: chiral and conformal anomalies and ABJ-anomalies 

Learning outcomes

After this course, the student will

  • understand fully the content of the renormalization program

  • be able to apply renormalization methods to compute higher order corrections to scattering processes and to study the scale dependence of couplings

  • be able to understand the particular features of renormalization of Yang-Mills gauge theories and be able to compute critical exponents using field theory methods

  • will understand the meaning of the effective action and effective potential and knows how to compute quantum corrections to them

  • will be able to fully understand the structure and quantization of the standard model of electroweak interactions and know how to compute precision electroweak observables

  • will understand how chiral and ABJ anomalies arise and what they mean for renormalizability 

Description of prerequisites

FYSS4510 Quantum Field Theory

Study materials

Lecture notes (Kimmo Kainulainen) 

Literature

  • Peskin & Schroder, An introduction to Quantum Field theory, Westview Press, ISBN 0-201-50397-2
  • Srednicki, Quantum field theory, Cambridge, ISBN 987-0-521-86449-7

Completion methods

Method 1

Description:
Given every other year, starting autumn 2020.
Evaluation criteria:
Weekly exercises and traditional exam or home exam.
Time of teaching:
Period 1, Period 2
Select all marked parts

Method 2

Description:
This completion method is for students for whom completion method 1 is not possible for specific reasons (e.g. language, distance learning, statement for special study arrangements). Contact the teacher before enrolling to the course via this completion method.
Evaluation criteria:
Exercises and exam.
Select all marked parts
Parts of the completion methods
x

Teaching (11 cr)

Type:
Participation in teaching
Grading scale:
0-5
Evaluation criteria:
Weekly exercises + traditional examination or home examination.
Language:
English
Study methods:

Interactive lectures and assignments + traditional examination or home examination.

No published teaching
x

Independent study (11 cr)

Type:
Independent study
Grading scale:
0-5
Evaluation criteria:
Exercises and exam.
Language:
English
Study methods:

Self-study, exercises and exam. 

Teaching