Introduction to quantum field theory and QED

• Grant number: 12/25045-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2013
• End date: March 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Elementary Particle Physics and Fields
• Principal Investigator: Arlene Cristina Aguilar
• Grantee: Clara Teixeira Figueiredo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin (IFGW). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the aim of this scientific initiation, the project is to promote an introductory study on Quantum Field theory that furnishes the appropriate framework for describing high energy physics. Particular emphasis will be given to the role of gauge invariance in abelian and non-abelian theories. We will derive the Feynman rules for QED Green's functions from the generating function. In addition, we will compute the Compton and Bhabha scattering which are QED tree-level processes. Finally, we will study the QED radiative corrections for the electron self-energy and the vacuum polarization.(AU)