FIELD THEORY IN PARTICLE PHYSICS by B. de Wit and E. Laenen

Field Theory in Particle Physics
Lecturers: Bernard de Wit, Eric Laenen
Tutors (UU): Ivano Lodato, Brecht Truijen, Joey van der Leer Duran

Classes: 8 February - 2 May 2012, Wednesdays 10:00-12:45,
Utrecht University, Minnaert Building, MG211

Tutorials: 7 February - 29 May 2012, Tuesdays 9:30-12:45, Buys Ballot Laboratory, BBL 165, Utrecht

This is an interuniversity course. In this course we investigate the structure and manifestations of (non-abelian) gauge theories. The Standard Model of elementary particles is an example, but we will often take a broader view. We begin with a general discussion of rigid and local symmetries, leading to the construction of gauge theories. Subsequently we discuss the quantization of gauge fields: gauge-fixing, ghost fields and Feynman rules. This enables a treatment of renormalization, asymptotic freedom, and the decoupling of heavy degrees of freedom. We then discuss some consequences for Quantum Chromodynamics, at the one-loop level, followed by an in-depth treatment of spontaneous symmetry breaking and the Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism. The Standard Model is introduced and some of its phenomenology is discussed. When time permits, the course will be concluded by a discussion of chiral anomalies and some outlook beyond the Standard Model.

Prerequisites: a good introduction in quantum field theory, some knowledge of group theory and of Lorentz invariance.

The lectures will take place in Utrecht. There will be three hours of lectures (with intermissions) every Wednesday, so that the total number of lecturing days is equal to twelve. Tutorials will be organized locally at the UvA and the UU. Students attending the class from places outside Utrecht will probably be offered some financial compensation for their travel. To qualify for compensation you will have to hand in your train tickets at the end of the course.

First lecture: Wednesday 8 February 2012.
First tutorial (UU): Tuesday 7 February 2012, BBL 165

Last lecture: 2 May 2012.
No lecture on 28 March 2012
Last tutorial (UU): 29 May 2012.

Question and answer sessions (UU): These meetings will not be held every week, but only when the need arises. We will discuss this in class or during the tutorial. On Tuesday June 12 at 10.00 pm we will have a quaestion and answer session in preparation of the upcoming exam in BBL 165.

Solutions to the assigned exercises and bonus points! We are prepared to asign two exercises to every student. The solutions have to be handed in as a LaTeX file. Assuming that the solutions are correct, you will receive an additional bonus point to be added to your grade. The bonus point cannot be used for the retake exam.

Deadline for handing in assigned bonus exercises: The deadline for the first problem is on Tuesday 17 April. The second problem will be assigned on May 15, provided you handed in the first problem in time. The deadline for handing in the second problem is Tuesday 5 June at 8 am.

Solutions to the assigned exercises:

Solutions UU

Final exam: 20 June 2012, 10:00 - 13.00, BBL 165.
Retake: 29 August 2012, 10.00 - 13.00, BBL 061 (room has been changed!).

Lecture notes will be made available, and can be obtained at the science student desk (room BBL 184b). More information will follow. The lecture notes made available in previous years through our web pages, have become obsolete. The lecture notes are part of the text of a forthcoming book "Field Theory in Particle Physics" (de Wit, Laenen, Smith).

Some additional material

Table of Contents Field Theory in Particle Physics
Field Theory in Particle Physics
Appendix E, Gamma matrices Field Theory in Particle Physics
Appendix F, Feynman integrals in n dimensions Field Theory in Particle Physics

UU lecture notes Introduction to Quantum Field Theory (B. de Wit, 2008)

Lectures

8 February: 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6 
15 February: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6
22 February: 3.6, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3
29 February: 4.3, 5.1, 5.2 
7 March: 5.3, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4
14 March: 7.6, 8.1, 8.2
21 March: 8.3, 9.1, 9.2 
28 March: no class
4 April: 9.3, 10.1, 10,2
11 April: 10.3, 18.1, 18.2
18 April: 18.3, 18.4, 19.1, 19.2
25 April: 19.2, 19.3, 19.4, 19.5, 20.1 
2 May: 20.2, 20.3

Assigned exercises

Numbers refer to exercises in "Field Theory in Particle Physics". 
Numbers in parentheses refer to exercises in "Introduction to Quantum Field Theory".

7 February: This will be a more introductory meeting. 
            Please, try to read chapter 1 before this meeting.
            We will discuss some first exercises: 1.1, 1.3, 1.7 

14 February: 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5

21 February: 2.6, 2.7, 3.6 (correction!), 3.1 

28 February: 3.4 (corrected version will be made available), 3.7, 4.1, 4.6

6 March:  3.3, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2

13 March: 7.1, 5,4, 5.9, 4,9

20 March: 7.3, 7.4, 8.1, 8.3

27 March: 8.2, 8.5, 9.2

3 April: 8.6, 8.8, 9.3
 
10 April: 9.3, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3

17 April: 18.2, 18.3, 10.4, 18.1

24 April: 18.6, 18.8, 18.4

1 May: 9.1, 18.6, 19.3, 18.12, 

8 May: 18.9, 18.11, 19.5, 

15 May: 19.2, 19.7, 19.10

22 May: 19.4, 18.10, 19.9

29 May: 20.1, 20.2, 19.8

In June we will schedule a meeting where we will answer 
your questions in preparation for the final exam. Please, contact us 
during office hours in case of more urgent questions or in order to 
familiarize us with some of the topics you want us to explain.

last update: 20/08/2012.