Theoretical Exercises

Course Information

All details regarding the location, schedule, and ECTS credits are available on KSL.

Course Description

This course applies core concepts of Quantum Field Theory through hands-on computational exercises. Topics include:

  • Perturbation theory in the path-integral formalism
  • Feynman rules and diagrammatic expansions
  • Grassmann numbers and fermionic path integrals
  •  Spinor fields and the Dirac equation
  •  Clifford algebra and gamma-matrix identities
  •  S-matrix construction and LSZ reduction
  •  Introduction to effective field theories
  •  Cross sections and decay rates
  • Practical techniques for loop integrals

The exercises culminate in a mini-project in which students compute the loop-induced decay rate of a Higgs boson into two photons, both analytically and numerically, including a guided implementation in Python (no prior coding experience required).

Literature