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| PHYS2012-1 | Relativistic quantum mechanics and relativistic statistics
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| Duration : | 20h Th, 5h Pr |
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| Number of credits : |
| Master in Physical Sciences, in-depth approach, 1st year | | 4 |
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| Master in Physical Sciences, in-depth approach, 2nd year | | 4 |
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| Master in Space Sciences, Research focus, 1st year | | 3 |
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| Master in Space Sciences, Research focus, 2nd year | | 3 |
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| Master in Physical Sciences, didactic approach, 1st year | | 4 |
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| Master in Physical Sciences, didactic approach, 2nd year | | 4 |
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| Master in Physical Sciences, specialized approach, 1st year | | 4 |
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| Master in Physical Sciences, specialized approach, 2nd year | | 4 |
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| Master in Physical Sciences | | 4 |
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| Lecturer : | Peter Schlagheck |
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Language(s) of instruction :
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| French language |
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Organisation and examination :
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| Teaching in the first semester, review in January |
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Course contents :
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| The aim of this course is to familiarize the student with relativistic quantum mechanics. It essentially covers the relativistic wave equations (Klein-Gordon, Dirac, Maxwell) for spin 0, spin 1/2 or spin 1 particles. It is explained through the formalism of second quantization how such equations imply a bosonic or fermionic character of the associated particles.
Topics of the course in detail:
- special relativity
- Maxwell's equations
- quantization of fields
- Klein-Gordon equation
- Dirac equation
- Pauli equation and its relativistic corrections |
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Learning outcomes of the course :
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| Principal objectives of this course:
- to understand the notion of "relativistic covariance" and its implications
- to get familiarized with the fundamental equations (Maxwell/Klein-Gordon and Dirac) that govern the dynamics of the elementary particles in our universe
- to understand the association of the (integer or half-integer) spin with the (bosonic or fermionic) statistics of a particle
- to understand how non-relativistic quantum mechanics emerges as limiting case of relativistic quantum mechanics
- to prepare for the course "Quantum field theory" |
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Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :
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| Having followed an introductory course on non-relativistic quantum mechanics |
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Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
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Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
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| The course will be given "ex cathedra" on the blackboard. |
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Recommended or required readings :
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| Recommended literature:
- J. Bjorken & S. Drell: "Relativistic Quantum Mechanics" (McGraw-Hill, 1964)
- A.S. Davydov: "Quantum Mechanics" (chapter VIII) (Pergamon, 1965)
- W. Greiner: "Relativistic Quantum Mechanics: Wave Equations" (Springer 1987)
- L.D. Landau & E.M. Lifshits: "Relativistic Quantum Theory" (Pergamon, 1971) |
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Assessment methods and criteria :
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| The evaluation will be done by an individual oral exam of 30 minutes on the contents of the course. |
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Work placement(s) :
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Organizational remarks :
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Contacts :
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| Peter Schlagheck
Département de Physique
Université de Liège
IPNAS, building B15, office 0/125
Sart Tilman
4000 Liège
Phone: 04 366 9043
Email: Peter.Schlagheck@ulg.ac.be
http://www.pqs.ulg.ac.be |
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