Compulsory | MSc Theoretical Physics https://projects.ift.uam-csic.es/master MSc UAM / IFT Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:41:34 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 https://projects.ift.uam-csic.es/master/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/cropped-LogoMUFT-scaled-1-32x32.png Compulsory | MSc Theoretical Physics https://projects.ift.uam-csic.es/master 32 32 Standard Model (SM) https://projects.ift.uam-csic.es/master/standard-model-sm/ Fri, 08 Aug 2025 14:52:24 +0000 https://projects.ift.uam-csic.es/master/?p=1321

Academic Team

Course Content

Type: Compulsory– PEC Track – 2nd Trimester

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the Standard Model (SM), the fundamental theoretical framework describing electromagnetic, weak, and strong interactions. Students will explore the structure, symmetries, and phenomenology of the SM, along with its experimental verification.

Main Topics

  • Structure and symmetries of the Standard Model.
  • Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) refresher.
  • Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) and strong interactions.
  • Electroweak theory and unification.
  • Higgs mechanism and mass generation.
  • Flavour physics, mixing, and CP violation.
  • Experimental tests and validation of the SM.
Skills Acquired
  • Understand the theoretical foundations of the SM and its construction.
  • Describe the role of symmetries and conservation laws in particle physics.
  • Explain how mass arises via the Higgs mechanism.
  • Connect theoretical predictions with experimental results.

Reading List

  • T.-P. Cheng & L.-F. Li, Gauge Theory of Elementary Particle Physics.
  • I. Aitchison & A. Hey, Gauge Theories in Particle Physics.

Course Outline

Course Schedule

]]> Quantum Field Theory (QFT) https://projects.ift.uam-csic.es/master/quantum-field-theory-qft/ Fri, 08 Aug 2025 14:48:03 +0000 https://projects.ift.uam-csic.es/master/?p=1318

Academic Team

Course Content

Type: Compulsory– PEC Track – 1st Trimester

This course introduces Quantum Field Theory (QFT) in the operator formalism, providing the essential tools to describe interactions among elementary particles. Beginning with the quantization of scalar and spinor fields, students progress to Quantum Electrodynamics (QED), symmetry principles, and an introduction to non-abelian gauge theories. The course blends conceptual foundations with practical computational techniques, including Feynman diagrams, scattering amplitudes, and renormalization.

Main Topics

  • Foundations of QFT – Motivation, connection between quantum mechanics and special relativity, spin–statistics, locality, and causality.
  • Scalar Fields – Canonical quantization, propagators, vacuum energy, Casimir effect, and interactions in scalar theories (λϕ⁴, Yukawa).
  • Spinor Fields – Dirac and Weyl equations, chirality, Majorana fermions, fermion quantization, and Feynman rules for fermions.
  • Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) – Gauge invariance, quantization of the electromagnetic field, QED Feynman rules, key scattering processes (Bhabha, Compton), and loop corrections.
  • Renormalization – Power counting, divergences, dimensional regularization, and electron self-energy.
  • Non-Abelian Gauge Theories – Lagrangians for gauge fields and fermions, gauge invariance, running couplings, and asymptotic freedom.

Reading List

  • An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory, M.E. Peskin and D.V. Schroeder. Addison-Wesley Pub. Co. (1995).
  • The Quantum Theory of Fields, Vols. I and II, S. Weinberg. Cambridge Univ Press (1995). Curso 2018-2019.
  • Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell, A. Zee. Princeton University (2003).
  • Quantum Field Theory, M. Srednicki. Cambridge Univ Press (2007).
  • Modern Quantum Field Theory, T. Banks. Cambridge Univ Press (2008).
  • Quantum Field Theory, C. Itzykson and J.B. Zuber. McGraw Hill (1980).
  • Field Theory: a Modern Primer, P. Ramond. Benjamin (1981).

Course Outline

Course Schedule

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