Quantum field theory

Quantum field theory
Master PhysiqueParcours Subatomic and Astroparticle Physics

Catalogue2025-2026

Description

The main objective of this lecture is to be able to apply Feynman rules for studying processes in high energy physics. In these lectures we only study the complex and real scalar fields having in mind that the extension to fermions and gauge bosons follows at once (with however some additional technicality).

A] Classical fields:
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-- Euler-Lagrange equations.
-- Internal and spacetime symmetries.
-- Noether Theorem.

B] Quantization of the Free scalar field:
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-- Equal time quantization.
-- Conserved quantities.
-- Normal ordering prescription.
-- Propagators and Green functions.

C] Interacting fields:
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-- Schrödinger, Heisenberg and interacting pictures.
-- Chronological products.
-- Wick Theorem.
-- N-points correlation functions.
-- Feynman rules.

D] Physical processes:
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-- S-matrix.
-- Cross sections.
-- Decay rates and branching rules.
-- Phase space.

Bibliographie

Michael Peskin and Daniel V Schroeder, An Introduction to quantum field theory, Addison-Wesley, 1995. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429503559. A lot of details.

Franz Mandl and Graham Shaw, Quantum Field Theory (Second Edition), John Wiley & Sons, 2010. A comprehensive book.

Pierre Ramond, Field theory: a modern primer (Second Edition), Frontiers in Physics, 1990. Feynman path integral approach.

Jean-Pierre Derendinger, Théorie quantique des champs, Lausanne: Presses Polytechniques et Universitaires Romandes, 2001.Very pedagogical.

Steven Weinberg, The Quantum theory of fields. Vol. 1: Foundations, Cambridge University Press, 2005, doi:10.1017/CBO9781139644167. Good book with historical details.

Michele Maggiore, A modern introduction to quantum field theory, Oxford University Press, 2005.Very pedagogical.

Contacts

Responsable(s) de l'enseignement

MCC

Les épreuves indiquées respectent et appliquent le règlement de votre formation, disponible dans l'onglet Documents de la description de la formation.

Régime d'évaluation
CT (Contrôle terminal, mêlé de contrôle continu)
Coefficient
2.5

Évaluation initiale / Session principale - Épreuves

LibelléType d'évaluationNature de l'épreuveDurée (en minutes)Coéfficient de l'épreuveNote éliminatoire de l'épreuveNote reportée en session 2
Written exam
CTET1202.5

Seconde chance / Session de rattrapage - Épreuves

LibelléType d'évaluationNature de l'épreuveDurée (en minutes)Coéfficient de l'épreuveNote éliminatoire de l'épreuve
Written exam
CTET1202.5