29::247 Introduction to Quantum Field Theory
Syllabus
Fall Semester 2006
Instructor: Prof. Yannick Meurice
Coordinates
- Office:514 VAN
- Phone:335-1991
- Email:yannick-meurice@uiowa.edu
- Web page:http://www-hep.physics.uiowa.edu/~meurice
- Lectures: 8:30-9:20 AM MWF in Lecture Room 301 in the Van
Allen Building.
- Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 9 :30-10:30 AM.
Feel free to
schedule appointments at other times.
Course Content
This is a first introduction to the theory of quantum fields. We will
discuss the theory of free scalar and fermions fields, the perturbative
treatment of their interactions
(Feynman rules), Quantum Electrodynamics and Path integral
formulations. Elementary applications
in condensed matter and particle physics will be discussed. More
detailed applications in
particle physics will be discussed by Prof. Reno in 29:275 in Spring
2007.
Textbooks
Main textbook: M. Stone, The Physics of Quantum Fields, Springer,
2000.
We will also use: J. Smit, Introduction to Quantum Fields on the
Lattice, Cambridge, 2000.
Other textbooks:
M. Peskin and D. Schroeder, Quantum Field Theory, Addison Wesley,
1995.
J. J. Sakurai, Advanced Quantum Mechanics, Addison Wesley, 1967.
I. Montvay and G. Munster, Quantum Field on a Lattice, Cambridge, 1997.
N. Nagaosa, Quantum Field Theory in Condensed Matter Physics, Springer,
1999.
S. Weinberg, The Quantum Theory of Fields , Cambridge, 1994.
C. Itzykson and J.B. Zuber, Quantum Field Theory, Mc Graw Hill,
1980.
R. Feynman and A. Hibbs, Quantum Mechanics and Path Integrals, Mc Graw
Hill, 1965
Homeworks
A reading assignment and a problem set will be provided each week
during the class. Assignments will be posted at
http://www-hep.physics.uiowa.edu/~meurice/qft/todo.html
Examinations and Final Grade
There will be two in-class exams during the semester and one final exam
during the exam week. The final grade will be calculated in the
following way: 30 points for the homeworks, 40 points for the in-class
exams
and 30 points for the final exam.
Class Attendance
Attendance at lectures is highly recommended but not required. You are
strongly encouraged to ask questions during the lectures.
There are no ``stupid questions''.
DEPARTMENT OF
PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY MAIN OFFICE
PROCEDURES
FOR STUDENT COMPLAINTS
- A student who has a complaint related
to a Physics or Astronomy course should follow the procedures
summarized below. The full policy on student complaints is on-line in
the College's Student Academic Handbook http://www.clas.uiowa.edu/faculty/handbook/5/f.shtml
• Ordinarily, the student should attempt to resolve the matter with the
instructor first. If the complaint is not resolved to the student's
satisfaction, the student should go to the course supervisor (if the
instructor is a teaching assistant) or to Chair–
Professor Thomas F. Boggess (see above).
- If the matter remains unresolved, the
student may submit a written
complaint to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs, 120 Schaeffer
Hall (335-2633). The associate dean will attempt to resolve the
complaint and, if necessary, may convene a special committee to
recommend appropriate action. In any event, the associate dean will
respond to the student in writing regarding the disposition of the
complaint. For any complaint that cannot be resolved through the
mechanisms described above, please refer to the College’s Student
Academic Handbook for further information.
A student suspected of
plagiarism or cheating must inform the student in writing as soon as
possible after the incident has been observed or discovered. Instructors who detect cheating or plagiarism
may decide, in consultation with the departmental executive officer, to
reduce the student's grade on the assignment or the course, even to
assign an F. The instructor writes an account of the chronology of the
plagiarism or cheating incident for the DEO (Associate Chair), who
sends an endorsement of the written report of the case to the Associate
Dean for Academic Programs, CLAS. A copy of the report will be
sent to the student.
-
The College guideline is that one semester
hour of credit is the equivalent of approximately three hours of work
(class time + out-of-class preparation) each week over the course of a
whole semester. In a typical lecture/discussion course, each hour of
class normally entails at least two hours of outside preparation for
the average student (e.g., in a three-credit-hour lecture course,
standard out-of-class preparation is six hours per week). This standard
is the basis on which the Registrar's Office assigns hours of
University credit for courses.
STUDENT RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
- The College's
Educational Policy Committee suggests that syllabi include a section on
student rights and responsibilities. They suggest the following:
- "All students
in the College have specific rights and responsibilities. You have the
right to adjudication of any complaints you have about classroom
activities or instructor actions. Information on these procedures is
available in the Schedule of Courses and on-line in the College's
Student Academic Handbook (http://www.clas.uiowa.edu/students/academic_handbook/).
You also have the right to expect a classroom environment that enables
you to learn, including modifications if you have a disability."
- "Your
responsibilities to this class-and to your education as a whole-include
attendance
and participation. (Here an instructor could put specific information
on his/her or the department's attendance policy.) You are also
expected to be honest and honorable in your fulfillment of assignments
and in test-taking situations (the College's policy on plagiarism and
cheating is on-line in the College's Student Academic Handbook http://www.clas.uiowa.edu/students/academic_handbook/).
You have a responsibility to the rest of the class-and to the
instructor-to help create a classroom environment where all may learn.
At the most basic level, this means that you will respect the other
members of the class and the instructor, and treat them with the
courtesy you hope to receive in turn."
- This course is given by the College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences. This means that class policies on matters such as
requirements, grading, and sanctions for academic dishonesty are
governed by the College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences.
Students wishing to add or drop this course after the official deadline
must receive the approval of the Dean of the College of Liberal
Arts and Sciences . Details of the University policy of cross
enrollments may be found at:
http://www.uiowa.edu/~provost/deos/crossenroll.doc