Review of relativity, covariant formalism. Oscillation fields and their quantization: phonons. Lagrangian formalism and Noether theorem. Klein Gordon field. Electromagnetic fields and potentials: photons and their quantization in the Coulomb gauge. Interaction of matter with e.m. fields: photon emission and absorption, scattering of light. Superfluidity, phonon spectrum and spontaneous symmetry breaking. Dirac’s equation for the electron, main consequences and its quantization.
M. Ciafaloni: note di “Introduzione alla teoria dei campi”,
R. Casalbuoni, notes on Quantum Field Theory, in rete e Introduction to quantum Field Theory, World Scientific.
F. Mandl e G. Shaw, Quantum Field Theory (J. Wiley and sons);
L.D. Landau e E. M. Lifshitz, Phisique Statistique, Editions MIR.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired: Introductory treatment of quantum fields, like photons, phonons and particles.
Competence acquired: Calculating probabilities of simple radiative processes. Theoretical explanation of superfluidity and superconductivity.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):
Theoretical perturbative treatment of radiation – matter interactions and field theory treatment of collective phenomena.
Prerequisites
Courses recommended: Courses on Quantum Mechanics (Laurea triennale on Physics and Astrophysics)
Teaching Methods
CFU: 9
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 150
Review of relativity, covariant formalism, Maxwell equations in covariant form. Oscillation fields and their quantization: phonons. Lagrangian formalism and Noether theorem. Quantization of Klein Gordon Field. Quantization of the lectromagnetic fields and potentials in the Coulomb gauge. Casinir effect. Interaction of matter with electromagnetic fields: photon emission and absorption, scattering of light. Cherenkov effect.
Bose Einstein Condensation. Superfluidity, Landau Ginzburg model and spontaneous symmetry breaking (outline). Cooper pairs and superconductivity. Dirac’s equation for the electron, its main consequences. Quantization of the Dirac field.