Quantum Chromodynamics and Effective Field Theory
10 credits
Syllabus, Master's level, 1FA360
A revised version of the syllabus is available.
- Code
- 1FA360
- Education cycle
- Second cycle
- Main field(s) of study and in-depth level
- Physics A1F
- Grading system
- Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail (U)
- Finalised by
- The Faculty Board of Science and Technology, 10 March 2016
- Responsible department
- Department of Physics and Astronomy
Entry requirements
120 credits in science/engineering with Quantum Field Theory and Advanced Particle Physics.
Learning outcomes
After passing the course the student should be able to
- discuss the main aspects, assumptions and predictions of the theory of the strong interaction, in particular asymptotic freedom, confinement and chiral symmetry breaking
- explain the concepts of scale separation and effective degrees of freedom and relate them to the general framework of effective field theories
- analyse the symmetries of a system and account for their importance in the understanding of particle physics
- relate the properties of quarks and gluons to the properties of their composite objects, the hadrons
- calculate reaction and decay rates starting from a Lagrangian
Content
Lagrangians and symmetries, Noether currents, discrete symmetries; basics of quantum electrodynamics and weak theory, gauge symmetries; scattering theory, unitarity and analyticity, Feynman rules; concepts of perturbative and effective field theories; quantum chromodynamics (QCD), quarks and unitary groups, colour and gauge invariance, flavour symmetry, chiral symmetry, hadron classifications; introduction to lattice QCD; spontaneous symmetry breaking, Goldstone bosons; chiral perturbation theory.
Instruction
Lectures and classes.
Assessment
Hand-in problems during the course.