This course is the natural continuation of the course "Quantum Physics". The applications of interest of ordinaruy quantum mechanics require familiarity with specific techniques for the study of systems with many degrees of freedom. The main purpose of this course is poroviding the student with the basic ideas of these techniques and illustrating the relevant applications, both in a many-body, non relativistic context and in the context of the relativistic extension of quantum physics.
Providing the student with basis concepts in relativistic electrodynamics, and with quantum mechanics of many-body systems in the context of second quantization.
The student will extend and upgrade his/her knowledge in quantum mechanics
The second quantization formalism will be illustrated in details and applied to relevant physical situations, both in non-relativistic and relativistic cases.
The quantization of electromagnetic fields and the relativistic description of quantum mechanics in simple cases will also be discussed.
Classical physics
Non-relativistic quantum mechanics
Special theory of relativity
Traditional lectures at the blackboard; six hours per week.
1. Second quantization
- Identical particles - Second quantization of a system of identical bosons - Second quantization of a ststem of identical fermions - Perturbation theory in the second quantization formalism.
2. Phonons
- One dimensional coupled oscillators; normal modes
- Quantization.
3. The electromagnetic field
- The classical electromagnetic field; normal modes - Quantization of the electromagnetic field
- Coherent states - Matter-radiation interaction - Emission and absorption of radiation.
- Thompson Scattering.
4. Classical field theory
- Symmetries - Noether theorem and conservation laws
5. Spin 0 and spin 1/2 quantum fields
- The real Klein-Gordon field - The complex Klein-Gordon field. Particles and antiparticles.
- The Dirac field.
6. Quantum field interactions
- Yukawa interaction and electromagnetic interaction. - Fermi's golden rule. LSZ reduction formlua. Interaction representation.
- Cross sections and decay rates.
Landau, Lifsitz 2 - Field theory
Landau, Lifsitz 3 - Quantum mechanics
Landau, Lifsitz 4 - Relativistic quantum theory
Gerry, Knight - Introductory Quantum Optics, Cambridge
Becchi, Ridolfi - An Introduction to relativistic processes and the standard model of electroweak interactions
Becchi - Appunti di fisica teorica
Maiani - Meccanica quantistica relativistica e introduzione alla teoria dei campi
Ricevimento: The students may contact the teacher at any time. A preliminary contact via e-mail is suggested.
GIOVANNI RIDOLFI (President)
NICOLA MAGGIORE
NICODEMO MAGNOLI
SIMONE MARZANI
September 24, 2018
THEORETICAL PHYSICS
Written test + interview
In the written test the student will be asked to solve two problems. The interview will last around 30 minutes.
