What is a good starting point for learning about quantum fields
What is a good starting point for learning about quantum fields
I went to college a long time ago. Since then the LHC verified the higgs boson. The higgs field and the higgs bubbles that separated quarks from antiquarks is something I've been looking at.
However I never took quantum mechanics and have little understanding of quantum fields. I would like to rectify that problem.
Can someone with knowledge give me a push in the right direction.... What books to start with, are there online lectures?
Thank you
PBS SpaceTime has a lot of good videos that slowly broach the subject
https://youtube.com/@pbsspacetime?
Viascience series have a little more of the math
Videos on Quantum Dynamics https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL193BC0532FE7B02C
Videos on Quantum Field Theory https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsp_BbZBIk_6_5pi9tHHmoVJzjqpfBkgJ
For a popular level explanation, try Feynman's "QED" lecture series,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QED:_The_Strange_Theory_of_Light_and_Matter
A more technical understanding is a lot more work and I never got anywhere near this level, the "theoretical minimum":
https://theoreticalminimum.com/
Actually for the stuff you are asking about, the theoretical minumum isn't really enough, but it's a start. Here's some more:
Thank you.
Stanford has a lot of freely available information that might be useful for you to study.
According to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", the exact procedure to learn quantum field theory :
"it would be much easier to get on a Vogon ship"don't forget to bring your towel!
The book "Quantum field theory for the gifted amateur" is really good. It's helped me understand quantum fields a lot better, and I work with quantum mechanics every day.
What's the intended audience? Considering that you do Quantum mechanic daily, I assumed you studied physics and knew QED and QCD but forgot about it?
Got my master in theoretical physics 20 years ago, moved to experimental physics and now do engineering and applied physics , so I cannot anymore decipher my QCD notes
From its own cover,
It is written by experimental physicists and aimed to provide the interested amateur with a bridge from undergraduate physics to quantum field theory. The imagined reader is a gifted amateur possessing a curious and adaptable mind looking to be told an entertaining and intellectually stimulating story, but who will not feel patronized if a few mathematical niceties are spelled out in detail.
This might sound pretty casual, but it gets into all the math of it, with an aim at practical use.
I'd really recommend going through the basics about learning QM. Specifically: classical mechanics, a very good stats & probability math course, calc prereqs, intro to QM, intro to thermal/stat physics, maybe an atomic course, intro chem course. I'm not sure of the exact steps, but as a physics undergrad major, it'll "click" after a certain amount of prereqs and if you need any help, feel free to PM me and I'll gladly be of assistance (as far as I can remember, at least).
It's also really important to remember that QM is really a formalized algebra of probability/stats, so it's really really important to get a good grasp of that. QFT and all that comes after understanding the basics. It's a fuck ton of work, but I think it's rewarding.
Read Sean Carroll's new Biggest Ideas pt 2 book
I've really been enjoying the podcast series Crash Course : The Universe. It's helped me to understand what quantum fields are a little better. It's probably not going inti much depth, but I love the way John Green hosts it, and I'm having a blast!
I'll need to check that out, I absolutely loved the Crash Course World History he did. Thanks for the heads up!
I gotchu