What are the prerequisites to study quantum field theory?

- Quora 13/08/2020, 14:05

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What are the prerequisites to study quantum field theory?

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2 Answers

Jay Wacker, physicist: PhD + postdoc + faculty

Answered December 2, 2014 · Upvoted by Vaibhav Sharma, PhD Physics, Cornell
University (2024) and Jerzy Michał Pawlak, PhD in High Energy Physics
(experimental)

Originally Answered: What are the prerequisites to study the quantum field theory?
You basically need a superior high-level undergraduate education in physics or a good
graduate eduction in physics. Quantum Field Theory has been under solid development
for over 100 years and the field still isn't solidly flushed out. It is the foundation upon
which all physical theories are based and as such it uses all physical theories in its
formulation.

I consider the following courses necessary:

1. A solid backing in Quantum Mechanics is required. For some people that is

undergraduate quantum mechanics, for others it is a graduate level course.
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You should understand spin very well. Knowing about Time Reversal Symmetry
is good. This goes infinitely further beyond than Griffith's Introduction to
Quantum Mechanics I would recommend Shankar's Principles of Quantum
Mechanics and Sakurai's Advanced Quantum Mechanics. Related Questions

2. A solid backing in Classical Mechanics is required including classical field What are the mathematical prerequisites for
theory. You should know Lagrangians and Hamiltonians, particularly for fields. quantum field theory (in ascending order)?
This is frequently not taught until graduate mechanics, so you might have to
pick it up on your own. I would recommend Goldstein's Classical Mechanics What is the best book to learn quantum field
and I would consider Landau and Lifschitz' Classical Theory of Fields. theory on your own?

3. A very good backing in Special Relativity is required, including the relativistic How do I learn Quantum Field Theory as a
formulation of electromagnetism. This is frequently taught in either classical beginner?
mechanics or E&M. I would recommend French's Special Relativity, Barut's
Electrodynamics and Classical Theory of Fields and Particles. Why does Schwartz in his textbook say that
quantum field theory is a mess? He says its
4. Electricity and Magnetism is required-- you should understand Green's foundations are flimsy and many derivations
functions solutions to E&M problems. This is frequently not taught until What's your favorite
are unsatisfactory introductory yet
(Paraphrased) quantum
he said
graduate E&M and goes well beyond Griffith's Introduction to Electrodynamics. field theory book?
it explained a lot. What are we missing?
Here Jackson's Classical Electrodynamics is the best book.
What are the prerequisites to studying Yang-
5. Statistical Mechanics is very useful -- you should have a solid background in Mills theory?
statistical mechanics, particularly the partition function/grand canonical
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ensemble. Here I would recommend Pathria & Beale's Statistical Mechanics.

6. Calculus of Residues is very useful-- you should know this pretty well,
including poles and branch cuts. I would recommend Arfken & Weber's
Mathematical Methods for Physicists.

7. General Relativity is helpful -- not a necessity, but it is very useful, particularly

tensors. I would recommend Schutz' A First Course in General Relativity.

8. Group Theory is helpful-- it's useful to have a background in group theory. I

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What are the prerequisites to study quantum field theory? - Quora 13/08/2020, 14:05

would recommend minimally Sakurai's Modern Quantum Mechanics and

preferably the first bit of Georgi's Lie Algebras In Particle Physics: from Isospin
To Unified Theories.

Finally, I would recommend deeply learning the most important formula in physics:
Γ = 𝑛𝜎𝑣 .
Without this, you won't understand what you're computing and how it connects to
Nature.
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Clifford Chafin, Ph.D. Researcher in quantum physics and gas theory

Answered May 30, 2017

You don’t have to be an expert in all “prereqs” to get started. You can revisit topics at
many levels on your way. Mandl and Shaw is a fun introduction. I like to visit old books
like Heitler’s Quantum Theory of Radiation. As the topic evolved it got more formal and
it is hard to get a sense of where it came from so the old books offer something here. I
really liked Schwebber. The subject is one of the less conceptually satisfying areas of
physics so don’t expect amazing bits of clarity. The subject is buried in math and you
will have to keep going back and digging for explanations that satisf … (more)
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What are the mathematical prerequisites for quantum field theory (in ascending order)?

What is the best book to learn quantum field theory on your own?

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Why does Schwartz in his textbook say that quantum field theory is a mess? He says its
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