PHYS 4500
Relativistic Quantum Fields and Particles
Fall 2024
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 250
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 25.
Tentative Schedule
August 13-15
Relativistic kinematics; Klein-Gordon equation
August 20-22
Dirac Equation; antiparticles
August 27-29
Lagrangian formulation for particles and fields; Noether's theorem;
canonical quantization of scalar fields
September 3-5
Test 1; Quantization of spinor fields; local gauge invariance
September 10-12
Quantization of gauge fields
September 17-19
Perturbation theory
September 24-26
Feynman diagrams; Quantum Electrodynamics
October 1-3
Test 2; Cross sections
October 8-10
Ultraviolet and infrared divergences; dimensional regularization
October 15-17
Renormalization
October 22-24
Path-integral quantization
October 29-31
Test 3; Non-abelian gauge theories; SU(2) and Electroweak theory
November 5-7
Spontaneous symmetry breaking; Higgs mechanism
November 12-14
SU(3) and Quantum Chromodynamics
November 19-21
QCD and asymptotic freedom; soft gluons
November 26-28
Fall break; no classes
Final Exam
Tuesday, December 3, 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
