FYSS4556 Perturbative QCD (9 cr)
Description
Basics of canonical quantization of gauge field theories with free fields
S-matrix, Wick's theorem, propagators and Green's functions
QED Feynman rules
SU(3) gauge transformations, gauge fixing, and QCD Feynman rules
SU(N) algebra: derivation of color identities, calculation of color factors for scattering cross sections
Inclusive jet and hard hadron production in proton-proton collisions: kinematics and leading-order partonic cross sections, gluon polarization states and ghosts, parton distribution functions and fragmentation functions, collinear factorization
Deep inelastic scattering: electroweak-current cases in leading-order perturbation theory, QCD-improved parton model, computation of the next-to-leading order QCD corrections and definition of parton distribution functions, DGLAP scale evolution equations and their solutions
Drell-Yan dilepton process: kinematics, computation of the cross sections in leading and next-to-leading order perturbative QCD
Decay of a quarkonium state: calculation of a decay width using perturbative QCD in the non-relativistic limit of the decaying meson state
Learning outcomes
After this course, the student will
understand the canonical quantization of free fields in gauge field theories, and can derive the QED and QCD Feynman rules from this
understand the QCD dynamics in various types of particle collisions
be able to compute various types of perturbative QCD scattering cross sections and also decay widths for heavy mesons
understand the group theoretical SU(3) color algebra involved in QCD scatterings
understand the gluon polarization states and know how to correctly deal with them in scattering calculations
know the basics of collinear factorization
understand the definition of process-independent parton distribution functions in next-to-leading order perturbative QCD, and know how to apply these in scattering calculations
understand the basics of the scale evolution of the parton distribution functions
Description of prerequisites
FYSS4301 and FYSS4302 Particle Physics, Parts A and B
Study materials
Literature
- R.K. Ellis, W.J. Stirling and B.R. Webber, QCD and Collider Physics (Cambridge Univ. Press), ISBN 0-521-54589-7.
- George Sterman, An introduction to Quantum Field Theory (Cambridge), ISBN 0-521-311322.
- Richard D. Field, Applications of Perturbative QCD (Addison -Wesley) ISBN 0-201-14295-3
Completion methods
Method 1
Method 2
Participation in teaching (9 cr)
Lectures and exercises + final exam
Lecture notes by Kari J. Eskola
Independent study (9 cr)
Independent studying, exercises and exam.
Lecture notes by Kari J. Eskola