58勛圖

PH5004 Quantum Field Theory

Academic year

2026 to 2027 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Normally only taken in the final year of an MPhys or MSci programme involving the School

Module description

This module presents an introductory account of the ideas of quantum field theory and of simple applications thereof, including quantization of classical field theories, second quantization of bosons and fermions, solving simple models using second quantization, path integral approach to quantum mechanics and its relation to classical action principles, field integrals for bosons and fermions, the relationship between path integral methods and second quantization, solving many-body quantum problems with mean-field theory, and applications of field theoretic methods to models of magnetism.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS PH3012 AND PASS PH3061 AND PASS PH3062 AND PASS 1 MODULE FROM {PH4038, MT4507} AND PASS 1 MODULE FROM {PH4028, MT3503}

Assessment pattern

2-hour Written Examination = 85%, Coursework = 15%

Re-assessment

Oral Re-assessment, capped at grade 7

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3 lectures or tutorials

Scheduled learning hours

30

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

120

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand the conceptual basis of path integrals and calculate simple path integrals.
  • Understand the canonical quantization of classical field theories.
  • Diagonalize simple quantum field theories using unitary transformations, Bogoliubov transformations and Fourier transforms, and solve interacting many-body models using mean-field decoupling and diagonalization.
  • Identify the mode energies in such theories and understand the connection of symmetry breaking to mode energies.
  • Understand path integrals and their relation to second quantization and calculate path integrals to find partition functions for general fermionic and boson theories.
  • Apply second quantization techniques to spin models.

Additional information from school

Please also read the general information in the School's Honours handbook that is available via /physics-astronomy/students/honours-handbook/