Quantum Field Theory I (2022/2023)

The course starts by looking for a quantum theory that is compatible with special relativity, without assuming fields are fundamental. Nevertheless fields turn out to be a very good, maybe inevitable mathematical tool for formulating and studying such a relativistic quantum theory. The second part of the course introduces the Dirac theory and canonically quantizes it. It also quantizes the Maxwell field theory. The Feynman diagram technique for perturbation theory is developed and applied to the scattering of relativistic fermions and photons. Renormalization of quantum electrodynamics is done to one-loop order.

Prerequisite: PSI Quantum Theory course or equivalently Graduate level Quantum Mechanics and QFT of scalar theory