PHYSICS 7013 - Quantum Field Theory
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2023
-
General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code PHYSICS 7013 Course Quantum Field Theory Coordinating Unit School of Physical Sciences Term Semester 1 Level Postgraduate Coursework Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Corequisites PHYSICS 7014 Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Ross Young
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
-
Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
1. demonstrate an understanding of field quantisation and the expansion of the scattering matrix;
2. carry out practical calculations based on Feynman diagrams.University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1,2 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1,2 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
1,2 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
- Peskin, M.E. and D.V. Schroeder, An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory, Addison-Wesley 1995, Ch. 1-5.Recommended Resources
Mandl, F. and G. Shaw, Quantum Field Theory, Wiley 1984.Online Learning
MyUni: Teaching materials and course documentation will be posted on the MyUni website (http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/). -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
- Lectures 24 x 1-hour sessions with 2 sessions per weekWorkload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).Learning Activities Summary
Introduction
- Review of four-vector notation
- Why quantise fields? (a) t ≠ operator, so neither is x; (b) causality; (c) photon field
- Review point mechanics: Noether's theorem, Jacobi first integral, Hamiltonian
Classical Field Theory
- Lagrangian (density), action, field equations of motion, equivalent Lagrangian
- Real and complex scalar fields, 4-potential and Maxwell's equations, Schrödinger field
- Stress-energy-momentum tensor and four-momentum, Hamiltonian (density)
Field Quantisation
- Dirac's quantum electrodynamics (1927)
- Free scalar field (real), 3-Fourier coefficients as ladder operators, particle number operators, Hamiltonian, zero-point energy and normal ordering, equal-time field commutators, complex scalar field
- Heisenberg picture, space-time translations, ground state, invariantly normalized one-particle states, Fock space
Invariant Functions
- Lorentz invariance and causality, Pauli-Jordan function, unordered free two-point function, boundary value of complex function, time-ordered functions, contour integrals and i prescriptions in momentum space
- Feynman propagator, Green's function property and relation to canonical commutators
Fermion Fields
- Replace commutators with anti-commutators; (Dirac equation, traces, polarization sums, etc., done concurrently in Relativistic Quantum Mechanics and Particle Physics); free fermion field and propagator, Lorentz properties
Interacting Theories
- Local interactions: Yukawa, electromagnetic, Mexican hat
- Interaction picture, time-evolution operator, S-matrix, Green's functions
- Contractions, Wick's theorem, Dyson-Wick expansion
- Feynman diagrams and rules for theory, position and momentum space, Green's functions and S-matrix
- Feynman rules for complex scalar and Yukawa theories
Introductory Quantum Electrodynamics
- Free photon field, gauge fixing (elementary), covariant gauges.
- Feynman rules.
- Polarisation sums.
Cross Sections and Decay Rates
- Wave packets for initial and final particles, mutual beam flux, sums over final states, identical particles, examples such as Compton scattering -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment task Type of assessment Percentage of total assessment
Hurdle
Yes or NoObjectives being assessed / achieved Assignments Formative & Summative 50% No 1-2 Final exam Summative 50% No 1-2 Assessment Detail
Assignments
The standard assessment consists of 3 assignments. This may be varied by negotiation with students at the start of the semester.
Final exam
One 3 hour exam is used to assess the understanding of and ability to use the material.Submission
Submission of Assigned Work
Coversheets must be completed and attached to all submitted work. Coversheets can be obtained from the School Office (room G33 Physics) or from MyUNI. Work should be submitted via the assignment drop box at the School Office.
Extensions for Assessment Tasks
Extensions of deadlines for assessment tasks may be allowed for reasonable causes. Such situations would include compassionate and medical grounds of the severity that would justify the awarding of a supplementary examination. Evidence for the grounds must be provided when an extension is requested. Students are required to apply for an extension to the Course Coordinator before the assessment task is due. Extensions will not be provided on the grounds of poor prioritising of time. The assessment extension application form can be obtained from: http://www.sciences.adelaide.edu.au/current/
Late submission of assessments
If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days or more late without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the mark.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
-
Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
-
Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
-
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
-
Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.
The 成人大片 is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The 成人大片 therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.
