Skip to main content
Till KTH:s startsida

FSI3050 Relativistic Quantum Physics 7.5 credits

Information per course offering

Termin

Information for Spring 2025 Start 14 Jan 2025 programme students

Course location

AlbaNova

Duration
14 Jan 2025 - 2 Jun 2025
Periods
P3 (4.0 hp), P4 (3.5 hp)
Pace of study

25%

Application code

60843

Form of study

Normal Daytime

Language of instruction

English

Course memo
Course memo is not published
Number of places

Places are not limited

Target group
No information inserted
Planned modular schedule
[object Object]
Schedule
Schedule is not published
Part of programme
No information inserted

Contact

Examiner
No information inserted
Course coordinator
No information inserted
Teachers
No information inserted

Course syllabus as PDF

Please note: all information from the Course syllabus is available on this page in an accessible format.

Course syllabus FSI3050 (Spring 2019–)
Headings with content from the Course syllabus FSI3050 (Spring 2019–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )

Content and learning outcomes

Course contents

I. Relativistic quantum mechanics

Tensor notation. Casimir operators. The Poincaré group. Irreducible representations of particles. The Klein-Gordon equation. The Dirac equation. The structure of Dirac particles. The Dirac equation: central potentials. The Weyl equation. Maxwell's equations and quantization of the electromagnetic field. Introduction to Yang-Mills theory.

II. Introduction to quantum field theory

Neutral and charged Klein-Gordon fields. The Dirac field. The Majorana field. Asymptotic fields: LSZ formulation. Perturbation theory. Introduction to quantum electrodynamics. Interacting fields and Feynman diagrams. Elementary processes of quantum electrodynamics. Introduction to radiative corrections.

Intended learning outcomes

After completed course, the PhD student should be able to:

  • apply the Poincaré group as well as classify particle representations.
  • analyze the Klein-Gordon and the Dirac equations.
  • solve the Weyl equation.
  • know Maxwell's equations and classical Yang-Mills theory.
  • quantize Klein-Gordon, Dirac, and Majorana fields as well as formulate the Lagrangian for these fields.
  • use perturbation theory in simple quantum field theories.
  • formulate the Lagrangian for quantum electrodynamics as well as analyze this.
  • derive Feynman rules from simple quantum field theories as well as interpret Feynman diagrams.
  • analyze elementary processes in quantum electrodynamics.
  • compute radiative corrections to elementary processes in quantum electrodynamics.

Literature and preparations

Specific prerequisites

Quantum Physics.
Relativity Theory.
Analytical Mechanics and Classical Field Theory (recommended).

Literature

  • T. Ohlsson, Relativistic Quantum Physics, Cambridge (2011)

Examination and completion

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Grading scale

P, F

Examination

  • TEN1 - Exam, 7.5 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Other requirements for final grade

Hand in assignments and an oral exam.

Examiner

Ethical approach

  • All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
  • In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
  • In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information

Course room in Canvas

Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas. A link to the course room can be found under the tab Studies in the Personal menu at the start of the course.

Offered by

Main field of study

This course does not belong to any Main field of study.

Education cycle

Third cycle

Postgraduate course

Postgraduate courses at SCI/Physics