PHY452 Elementary Particle Theory
General Information
| Lecturer: | Prof. Gino Isidori ( Y36 J82 ) |
| Assistants: | Dr. Gioacchino Piazza (Y36 J42 ) Arianna Tinari ( Y36 J44 ) |
| Module Code: | PHY 452 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10 |
Description
This course provides and introduction to Quantum Field Theory and Particle Physics Phenomenology. The main subjects are:
- Introduction & Preliminaries (Relativistic kinematics, Classical Field Theory)
- Quantization of the scalar field (canonical quantisation)
- Interacting Fields (S matrix, Feynman rules)
- Dirac equation and Dirac field
- Quantum Electrodynamics (QED)
- Elements of Renormalization
- Non-Abelian gauge theories
- Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD)
- Spontaneous Symmetry breaking
- The Standard Model of electroweak interactions
Timetable
Lectures (start 17.09.25)
Wednesday 10:15-12:00 in Y27-H-52
Friday 10:15-12:00 in Y13-L-11/13
Exercises (start 19.09.25)
Friday 14:00-15:45 in Y13-L-11/13
Lectures
| Date | Subject | Notes | |
| 17.09.25 | 1. Introduction & Preliminaries | Notes 1.1 (PDF, 3 MB) | |
| 19.09.25 | 1. Introduction & Preliminaries | Notes 1.2 (PDF, 4 MB) | |
| 24.09.25 | 2. Quantization of the Scalar Field | Notes 2.1 (PDF, 4 MB) | |
| 26.09.25 | 2. Quantization of the Scalar Field | Notes 2.2 (PDF, 3 MB) | |
| 01.10.25 | 3.1 The Dirac Equation | Notes 3.1 (PDF, 234 KB) | |
| 03.10.25 | 3.1 The Dirac Equation | ||
| 08.10.25 | 3.2 Quantization of the Dirac field | Notes 3.2 (PDF, 848 KB) | |
| 10.10.25 | 3.2 Quantization of the Dirac field 4.1 Quantization of the E.M. field |
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| 15.10.25 | 4.2 Quantization of the E.M. field | Notes 4.2 (PDF, 1 MB) | |
| 17.10.25 | 5.1 Interacting fields | Notes 5.1 (PDF, 3 MB) | |
| 22.10.25 | 5.2 Interacting fields | Notes 5.2 (PDF, 3 MB) | |
| 24.10.25 | 5.3 Interacting fields 6.1 QED |
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| 29.10.25 | 6.2 QED | Notes 6.2 (PDF, 1 MB) | |
| 31.10.25 | 6.3 QED | Notes 6.3 (PDF, 1 MB) | |
| 05.11.25 | 7.1 Elements of Renormalization | Notes 7.1 (PDF, 1 MB) | |
| 07.11.25 | 7.2 Elements of Renormalization | Notes 7.2 (PDF, 1 MB) | |
| 12.11.25 | 8.1 QCD |
Notes 8.1 (PDF, 2 MB) | |
| 14.11.25 | 8.2 QCD |
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| 19.11.25 | 8.3 QCD |
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| 21.11.25 | 8.4 QCD |
Notes 8.4 (PDF, 3 MB) | |
| 26.11.25 | 8.5 QCD | Notes 8.5 (PDF, 1 MB) | |
| 28.11.25 | 8.6 QCD |
Notes 8.6 (PDF, 1 MB) | |
| 3.12.25 | 9.1 Weak interactions and the Standard Model | Notes 9.1 (PDF, 4 MB) | |
| 5.12.25 | 9.2 Weak interactions and the Standard Model | Notes 9.2 (PDF, 2 MB) | |
| 10.12.25 | 9.3 Weak interactions and the Standard Model | Notes 9.3 (PDF, 2 MB) | |
| 12.12.25 | 9.4 Weak interactions and the Standard Model | Notes 9.4 (PDF, 2 MB) | |
| 17.12.25 | 9.2 Weak interactions and the Standard Model |
Notes 9.5 (PDF, 2 MB) |
Typed Lecture Notes
Lecture notes (PDF, 909 KB) covering chapters 1-7
Exercises
| Text | Given on | To hand on | Solution | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 17.09.25 | Fri 19.09.25 | |||
| Sheet 02 (PDF, 200 KB) | Wed 24.09.25 | Fri 26.09.25 | Solution 02 (PDF, 228 KB) | |
| Sheet 03 (PDF, 208 KB) | Wed 01.10.25 | Fri 03.10.25 | ||
| Sheet 04 (PDF, 193 KB) | Wed 08.10.25 | Fri 10.10.25 | Solution 04 (PDF, 217 KB) | |
| Wed 15.10.25 | Fri 17.10.25 | |||
| Wed 22.10.25 | Fri 24.10.25 | Solution 06 (PDF, 249 KB) | ||
| Sheet 07 (PDF, 191 KB) | Wed 29.10.25 | Fri 31.10.25 | Solution 07 (PDF, 260 KB) | |
| Sheet 08 (PDF, 178 KB) | Wed 5.11.25 | Fri 7.11.2025 | Solution 08 (PDF, 236 KB) | |
| Sheet 09 (PDF, 166 KB) x2 | Wed 12.11.25 | Fri 14.11.2025 | ||
| Sheet 10 (PDF, 267 KB) | Wed 26.11.25 | Fri 28.11.2025 | ||
| Sheet 11 (PDF, 192 KB) | Wed 10.12.25 | Fri 12.12.2025 |
Suggested References
Mandel, F. / Shaw, G., "Quantum Field Theory, 2nd Edition", Wiley (2010)
Peskin, M.E. / Schroeder D.V., "An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory", Addison-Wesley (1995)