PHY230A (Spring 24)
Quantum Theory of Fields
Instructor: Hsin-Chia Cheng (cheng [at]
physics.ucdavis.edu)
Time & Place: Tue & Thu 9:00-10:20AM, 185 Physics
Office Hours: Tue 3-4 PM and Thu 12-1 PM in 414 Physics
Prerequisites: PHY200AB, PHY215AB
Website: http://www.physics.ucdavis.edu/~cheng/teaching/230A-s24
TA: Yifan Tang (phytang
[at] ucdavis.edu, Office: PSEL 3007, Office Hour: Thu 2-3 PM in 80
Physics
Textbook: We will use the draft of "Fundamentals of
Quantum Field Theory" by Timothy Cohen and Markus Luty,
which is still under development. The first 13 chapters will be
posted on the Canvas course site. We will roughly follow the book
but may not cover everything discussed in the book. Some materials
will be assigned as reading assignments. Other recommended
textbooks with more modern approaches include Peskin &
Shroeder, "An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory" and Matthew
D. Schwartz "Quantum Field Theory and the Standard Model."
Homework: Homework assignments will be posted in the on the
Canvas course page. There will be homework assignments mostly every
week. The homework should be submitted
to Gradescope. We will use Gradescope to handle the grading of
homework and exams. No late homework will be accepted so even if you
couldn't finish you should turn in what you have done. The
solutions will be available on the Canvas course website soon
after the deadline. Doing the problem sets is an extremely
important part of learning. You can't learn the subject by just
listening to the lectures without working through things by
yourself. They also contain some of the important topics that we
won't be able to cover in class. You are encouraged to discuss
the problem sets with your classmates, TA and me, but you are not
allowed to copy other people's homework or
solutions provided by online helpers such as Chegg. Each of
you is required to write up your own homework following your own
understandings. Each problem set is due about one week after its
assignment.
Grading: Homework 50%, Midterm 20%, Final 30%
Outlines of the course
- Introduction: Problems of relativistic quantum mechanics and
why we need a quantum field theory (CH1,2)
- Spacetime symmetry in quantum theories (CH3)
- From particles to fields (CH4)
- Interacting quantum fields (CH5)
- Scattering and S-matrix (CH6)
- Feynman diagrams and rules(CH7)
- Symmetries and conservation laws (CH8)
- Relativistic particles with spin (CH9)
- Spin-1/2 fermions (CH11-12)
- (If time permits) Introduction to quantum electrodynamics
(QED) with spin-1 gauge field
Other Information
If you have not already done so please review the UC Davis Code of Academic
Conduct.
If you need to document a learning disability contact the Student Disability Center.