Description
1. Introduction: notation, conventions. The need for a multiparticle formulation of relativistic QM.
2. Canonical quantization of free scalar field theory.
3. Symmetries and conservation laws.
4. Interacting fields: Feynman diagrams and the S matrix; cross sections, decay widths and phase space.
5. Spin 1/2 fields: Spinor representations, Dirac and Weyl spinors, Dirac equation. Canonical quantization of the Dirac field. Spin and statistics.
6. Vector fields and quantum electrodynamics.
Other topics may be covered as time permits.
As prerequisites, you will be assumed to be familiar with:
- Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of classical mechanics,
- electromagnetism and Maxwell's equations,
- special relativity and four-vector notation, and
- nonrelativistic quantum mechanics.
General Information
Final Exam (take away, 9 AM - 5 PM): 40%
Announcements
Just a reminder that the exam for PHY2403 is tomorrow, Tuesday December 15. Please pick it up at 9 AM at my office (MP1116) and return it by 5 PM. The exam is open-book, but the only references you are allowed are the lecture notes, problem sets and solutions, and Peskin & Schroeder. See you tomorrow.
Based on your responses to the Doodle poll, the final exam for PHY2403F will be held from 9AM-5PM on Tuesday, December 15. Those of you who couldn't make this time can write it the day before, on Monday, December 14. If you are in this category, please send me an email to confirm that you'll be writing on Monday.
Hi Folks -
Now that the final exam schedule is available, we need to schedule a date to write the takehome PHY2403F final exam. The exam runs all day, from 9 AM to 5 PM, and I've set up a Doodle poll to find out when people are available during the first week of exams. Please go to
http://doodle.com/poll/xd4f6t8yxycpt5un
by the end of this week and select all the dates that you ARE AVAILABLE to write the exam. Please only reject dates where you have conflicts during that day (i.e. not days that you would prefer to avoid for other reasons, like an exam the following day). If you have any particular concerns about scheduling, feel free to email me/discuss them with me.
Note that in previous years it's proven almost impossible to find a day that works for everyone, so some people may have to write on a different day.
I've switched the room for PHY2403 from MP408 to MP118 (right behind the coffee bar on the first floor). This way you should all get a seat and a writing surface. Lecture times are unchanged.
| Name | Office Hours | |
|---|---|---|
Yige Chen | When? Where? | |
Michael Luke | When? Where? |