PHYS 4500
Relativistic Quantum Fields and Particles
Fall 2025
Professor Nikolaos Kidonakis
Office: SC437
Phone: (470) 578-6607
email: nkidonak@kennesaw.edu
Web: http://facultyweb.kennesaw.edu/nkidonak
Lectures: TTH 11:00am-12:15pm, Academic Bldg 322
Textbook: A Standard Model Workbook by Thomas A. Moore
Further suggested reading: Quantum Field Theory by Lewis Ryder, second edition
Course description
PHYS 4500: Relativistic Quantum Fields and Particles
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: PHYS 3710 and MATH 2203
This course is an introduction to relativistic quantum mechanics, quantum field theory,
elementary particle physics, and gauge theory. Students will learn how the combination
of the two revolutionary physics theories of the first half of the 20th century, relativity
and quantum mechanics, leads us to the concept of quantum fields and the description
of the fundamental forces and particles in the universe. Students will see how electromagnetism,
the strong and weak nuclear interactions, and even gravity, can be described in a
unified way as gauge theories.
Learning outcomes
1. Learn how to derive relativistic Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations.
2. Learn how to use gauge symmetries to derive conservation laws in physics.
3. Analyze the quantization of scalar, vector, and spinor fields.
4. Use perturbation theory in elementary particle interactions.
5. Describe fundamental interactions in nature in terms of unitary groups.
Grading
Homework 30%
Tests 45% (3 tests, 15% each)
Final Exam 25%
Grades: A >90%; B 80%-90%; C 70%-80%; D 60%-70%; F <60%
Withdrawal
Last day to withdraw is October 31.
Tentative Schedule
August 19-21
Relativistic kinematics; Klein-Gordon equation
August 26-28
Dirac Equation; antiparticles
September 2-4
Lagrangian formulation for particles and fields; Noether's theorem;
canonical quantization of scalar fields
September 9-11
Test 1; Quantization of spinor fields; local gauge invariance
September 16-18
Quantization of gauge fields
September 23-25
Perturbation theory
September 30-October 2
Feynman diagrams; Quantum Electrodynamics
October 7-9
Test 2; Cross sections
October 14-16
Ultraviolet and infrared divergences; dimensional regularization
October 21-23
Renormalization
October 28-30
Path-integral quantization
November 4-6
Test 3; Non-abelian gauge theories; SU(2) and Electroweak theory
November 11-13
Spontaneous symmetry breaking; Higgs mechanism
November 18-20
SU(3) and Quantum Chromodynamics
November 25-27
Fall break; no classes
December 2-4
QCD and asymptotic freedom; soft gluons
Final Exam
Tuesday, December 9, 10:30am-12:30pm
Exam Policy
Please note that any mobile device that transmits a signal is not permitted to be
used in an exam. All mobile devices should be deactivated during exams. Final exam
make-up is only for documented and excused emergencies or for scheduling conflicts
with other final exams.
Academic Integrity
Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student Code
of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs.
Attendance & Participation
Students are expected to attend all lectures, take all tests and exams, and complete
all homework assignments.
Federal, BOR and KSU Student Policies
