Introduction to quantum field theory in curved spacetimes

• Grant number: 17/17640-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2018
• End date: December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Elementary Particle Physics and Fields
• Principal Investigator: Raphael Santarelli
• Grantee: Cleiton de Oliveira Ambrósio
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/09357-9 - Physics and geometry of spacetime, AP.TEM

Abstract

Since General Relativity (GR) and Quantum Mechanics were established at the beginning of the 20th century, there has been several attempts to unify them about their disagreeing aspects; this paradigm follows without a definite answer until now. One reasonable approach with interesting results emerge from the introduction of a curved background to Quantum Field Theory (QFT); this method is named Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetimes (QFT in CST). In this project, it is proposed a set of studies involving fundamental concepts of Special and General Relativity, followed by an introduction to Classical and Quantum Field Theories; finally, it is proposed to analyze the most simple quantum fields in a curved spacetime (treatment which is precisely QFT in CST). The importance of this project comes from the lack or complete absence of these subjects in the undergraduate courses, even though they are of notorious relevancy in many fields of current Physics. In general, it is expected that the student will acquire significant knowledge on these topics; in particular, at the end of the project, he must be able to describe satisfactorily Schwarzchild spacetime with the tools of GR, to understand the quantization of the classical scalar non-massive field and to analyze the consequences following from the insertion of curvature into the background spacetime. As it consists of mainly theoretical work at the undergraduate level, the most part of apparatuses utilized will be purely analytical. The plan of work is proposed to last for 12 months, period during which 2 reports will be written (at half time and in the end) discussing the advances made on research. (AU)