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The main objective of this course is to discuss some advanced topics in gravitational physics and its applications to high energy physics. Necessary mathematical tools will be introduced on the way. These mathematical tools will include a review of differential geometry (tensors, forms, Lie derivative), vielbeins and Cartan’s formalism, hypersurfaces, Gauss-Codazzi formalism, and variational principles (Einstein-Hilbert action & Gibbons-Hawking term). Several topics in black hole physics including the Kerr solution, black hole astrophysics, higher-dimensional black holes, black hole thermodynamics, Euclidean action, and Hawking radiation will be covered. Additional advanced topics will include domain walls, brane world scenarios, Kaluza-Klein theory and KK black holes, Gregory-Laflamme instability, and gravitational instantons

This course will cover the basics of Quantum Foundations under three main headings. Part I – Novel effects in Quantum Theory. A number of interesting quantum effects will be considered. (a) Interferometers: Mach-Zehnder interferometer, Elitzur-Vaidman bomb tester, (b) The quantum-Zeno effect. (c) The no cloning theorem. (d) Quantum optics (single mode). Hong-Ou-Mandel dip. Part II Conceptual and interpretational issues. (a) Axioms for quantum theory for pure states. (b) Von-Neumann measurement model. * (c) The measurement (or reality) problem. (d) EPR Einstein’s 1927 remarks, the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen argument. (e) Bell’s theorem, nonlocality without inequalities. The Tirolson bound. (f) The Kochen-Specker theorem and related work by Spekkens (g) On the reality of the wavefunction: Epistemic versus ontic interpretations of the wavefunction and the Pusey-Barrett-Rudolph theorem proving the reality of the wave function. (h) Gleason’s theorem. (i) Interpretations. The landscape of interpretations of quantum theory (the Harrigen Spekkens classification). The de Broglie-Bohm interpretation, the many worlds interpretation, wave-function collapse models, the Copenhagen interpretation, and QBism. Part III Structural issues. (a) Reformulating quantum theory: I will look at some reformulations of quantum theory and consider the light they throw on the structure of quantum theory. These may include time symmetric quantum theory and weak measurements (Aharonov et al), quantum Bayesian networks, and the operator tensor formalism. (b) Generalised probability theories: These are more general frameworks for probabilistic theories which admit classical and quantum as special cases. (c) Reasonable principles for quantum theory: I will review some of the recent work on reconstructing quantum theory from simple principles. (d) Indefinite causal structure and indefinite causal order. Finally I will conclude by looking at (i) the close link between quantum foundations and quantum information and (ii) possible future directions in quantum gravity motivated by ideas from quantum foundations.

This course on quantum mechanics is divided in two parts:
 
The aim of the first part is to review the basis of quantum mechanics. The course aims to provide an overview of the perturbation theory to handle perturbations in quantum systems. Time evolution of quantum systems using the Schrodinger, Heisenberg and interaction pictures will be covered. Basics of quantum statistical mechanics for distinguishable particles, bosons, and fermions will be covered. A brief overview of density matrix approach and quantum systems interacting with the environment will be given.
 
The second part of the course is an introduction to scalar quantum field theory. The Feynman diagram technique for perturbation theory is developed and applied to the scattering of relativistic particles. Renormalization is briefly discussed.

This is a theoretical physics course that aims to review the basics of theoretical mechanics, special relativity and classical field theory, with the emphasis on geometrical notions and relativistic formalism.