Starting week 38, 2023 – every Tuesday from 10am - 12pm in room B1 – ending week 44, 2023

This course will consist of an introduction to Galilean non-relativistic effective field theory methods and applications for few- and many-particle systems. The course is intended as a stand-alone introduction to the physics of systems of non-relativistic particles that interact via arbitrary short-distance forces. While quantum field theory methods will center prominently, essential field-theoretic methods (for example, regularization and renormalization) will be developed as they are required. Likewise, the physics and phenomenology of nuclear and atomic systems, that will form the majority of the applications, will be built up and developed from scratch, as will the physics of some of the more non-standard examples and systems that are considered. The basic prerequisite is graduate-level quantum mechanics. There will be weekly problem sets that are closely coupled to the course development.

Learning results of the course:

Upon successful completion of the course, students should expect to be familiar with the most general way of thinking about the interactions of non-relativistic quantum systems involving particles interacting via arbitrary short-range forces. This methodology provides a unified effective field theory treatment of two- and three-body scattering systems, as well as of many-body systems which may experience Bose-Einstein condensation and superfluidity/superconductivity. Thus, this course provides, in some sense, essential knowledge for graduate students interested in theoretical research in modern nuclear and atomic physics. In addition, given the universality of the effective field theory language, this course will also provide valuable exposure to the core technology that forms the basis of modern particle physics.

Lecturer:

Silas Beane