FY824: Quantum field theory in curved space

• The course is aimed at master and PhD students.
• If less than 12 students participate, the lessons will - to a great extent - consist of videos combined with lecture notes.

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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

Planned lessons:
Total number of planned lessons: 28
Hereof:
Common lessons in classroom/auditorium: 28 

In the common lessons in the auditorium, there will be lectures. In the group classes, exercises will be solved together. Students are expected to read and calculate assignments in preparation for the classes on their own.

2 obligatory home exercises