572 (Spring 2025)

PHYS 572:  Modern Quantum Field Theory  (Spring quarter, 2025)

T Th 2:00-3:20pm  PAA 114

Instructor:   Silas Beane      B457   OH:  T W Th

TA:                    Jerry Li

Subject matter

PHYS 572 will focus on non-relativistic (NR) effective field theory (EFT). Much of the field-theory technology introduced  in 570 and 571 finds fruitful realization in the non-relativistic  setting, including Feynman diagram and path integral techniques,  regularization and renormalization, renormalization group (RG) fixed  points and flows, the operator product expansion, non-relativistic  conformal invariance (Schrödinger symmetry), and spontaneous symmetry breaking and the EFT of Goldstone modes. Few-body systems will be considered in some detail, with a focus on two- and  three-body systems. Many-body systems of bosons and fermions will then be considered; topics will include Bose-Einstein condensation, Fermi liquid theory and superfluidity.  Throughout the course, topical applications will be drawn from atomic, condensed matter, nuclear and particle physics.

Logistics

There will be approximately four problem sets throughout the quarter and no exams. In the last week there will be short student presentations on topics of interest. Lecture notes are available on Canvas.

Topics covered

Useful Review References

1) Building light nuclei from neutrons, protons, and pions, By Daniel R. Phillips. 10.1007/s10582-002-0079-z.

2) Effective field theory and the Fermi surface, By Joseph Polchinski. hep-th/9210046.

3) Five lectures on effective field theory, By David B. Kaplan. nucl-th/0510023.

4) Introduction to effective field theory, By Eric Braaten.

5) Universality in few-body systems with large scattering length, By E. Braaten and H.W. Hammer.  10.1016/j.physrep.2006.03.001 .

6) The few-atom problem, By D.S. Petrov.

7) Effective theories of dense and very dense matter, By Thomas Schäfer. nucl-th/0609075

Useful Original Sources

1) Two nucleon systems from effective field theory, By David B. Kaplan, Martin J. Savage, Mark B. Wise. 10.1016/S0550-3213(98)00440-4.

2) Effective field theory of short range forces, By U. van Kolck. 10.1016/S0375-9474(98)00612-5. 

3) Rearranging pionless effective field theory, By Silas R. Beane, Martin J. Savage. 10.1016/S0375-9474(01)01088-0.

4) Effective chiral Lagrangians for nucleon - pion interactions and nuclear forces, By Steven Weinberg. 10.1016/0550-3213(91)90231-L. 

5) Effective field theory for dilute Fermi systems, By H.W. Hammer, R.J. Furnstahl.  10.1016/S0375-9474(00)00325-0.

6) Field redefinitions at finite density, By H.W. Hammer, R.J. Furnstahl, N. Tirfessa.  10.1016/S0375-9474(00)00687-4 .

7) The potential of effective field theory in NN scattering, S.R. Beane, T.D. Cohen, D.R. Phillips.  10.1016/S0375-9474(98)00007-4 

8)  Two-particle states on a torus and their relation to the scattering matrix, M. Lüscher. 10.1016/0550-3213(91)90366-6

9)  Two nucleons on a lattice, S.R. Beane et al. 10.1016/j.physletb.2004.02.007

Religious Accommodations

Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. 

The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/). 

Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/).