FY824: Quantum field theory in curved space (5 ECTS)

STADS: 07013301

Level
Master's level course approved as PhD course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the spring semester.

Teacher responsible
No responsible teachers found, contact the department if necessary

Timetable
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Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
Students taking the course are expected to:

• Have knowledge of General Relativity
• Be able to use quantum mechanics and the theory of relativity

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.

Subject overview
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
There isn't any litterature for the course at the moment.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:

1. Two take-home problem sets. Internal marking by teacher, pass/fail. (5 ECTS). (07013302).

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 28 hours

Educational activities
Two obligatory take-home problem sets.Educational form
Lectures and obligatory home problems.

Language
This course is taught in Danish or English, depending on the lecturer. However, if international students participate, the teaching language will always be English.

Remarks


Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
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