FY824: Quantum field theory in curved space

Comment

The course is aimed at master and PhD students.
The course will be offered every second year, alternating with FY812: General Relativity and Cosmology, which will also be offered every two years.
If less than 12 students participate, the lessons will - to a great extent - consist of videos combined with lecture notes.

Entry requirements

None.

Academic preconditions

Knowledge of general relativity is an advantage, but not necessary

Course introduction

The aim of the course is to enable the student to enable the student to understand the foundations of three of the most fundamental problems in modern physics; the black hole information paradox, the cosmological constant problem, and the problem regarding the quantum origin of our universe. This is important in order to reach a level, where one can follow the active research in theoretical high energy physics and cosmology.

The course builds on the knowledge acquired in the quantum mechanics courses and in the course FY812 (General Relativity and Cosmology), and gives an academic basis for completing a master thesis or carrying out research at the PhD level within these topics.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

Give a good theoretical basis for further adventures in high energy physics and cosmology
Give knowledge and understanding of some of the most fascinating and challenging topics in theoretical physics, strengthening the student’s capabilities, both as researcher, teacher and populariser of science.

Expected learning outcome

The learning objectives of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:

reproduce basic elements in the theory of quantum field theory in curved space.
to apply quantum field theory in curved space to a number of physical examples.
to obtain a qualitative or quantitative understanding of new research literature in the area.
to search and find more detailed literature and by own means gain a deeper insight into quantum field theory in curved space and it’s applications.

Content

The following main topics are contained in the course:

Second quantisation
Casimir effect
Second quantisation in curved backgrounds
Time dependent vacuum and particle production
The cosmological constant problem
Quantum field theory in the expanding universe
Inflation and cosmological perturbation theory
Unruh effect/Hawking radiation
Bekenstein entropy and space-time thermodynamics

Literature

See itslearning for syllabus lists and additional literature references.

Examination regulations

Exam element a)

Timing

Spring

Tests

Two take-home problem sets

EKA

N510036102

Assessment

Second examiner: None

Grading

Pass/Fail

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

To be announced during the course.

ECTS value

Indicative number of lessons

28 hours per semester

Teaching Method

Lectures and obligatory home problems.

Teacher responsible

Name	E-mail	Department
Martin Snoager Sloth	sloth@cp3.sdu.dk	Fysik

Timetable

Odense

Show full time table

Administrative Unit

Fysik, kemi og Farmaci

Team at Educational Law & Registration

NAT

Offered in

Odense

Recommended course of study

Profile	Education	Semester	Offer period

Transition rules

Transitional arrangements describe how a course replaces another course when changes are made to the course of study.

If a transitional arrangement has been made for a course, it will be stated in the list.

See transitional arrangements for all courses at the Faculty of Science.