Thinking particle physics for grad school. Undergrad course questions

[Visceral]

Hi.

I am hoping to pursue high energy physics in graduate school. I have a few extra math electives I need to take for my math degree(majoring in math and physics). I was wondering if these classes would be of any real relevance

Abstract Algebra
Algebraic Geometry
Lie AlgebrasDifferential Geometry
Manifold Theory
Riemannian geometry

They are all grad courses, but I can take about 3 of them. The prereq for Manifolds is Diff Geo, and the prereq for Riemannian is Manifolds. The same reasoning goes for the algebra sequence. Basically I was thinking of either taking the algebra courses or the geometry ones. Would this be a good idea? I guess algebraic geometry is as it sounds also?

edit: Also, by the time I will be able to take any of these(spring semester next year), I will have taken graduate linear algebra and real analysis 2 at the undergrad level.

 

[yenchin]

If you are interested in particle physics, I will say the algebra courses are more helpful. If you are interested in gravity on the other hand, the geometry courses are more helpful.

 

[Jorriss]

Does your physics department have a graduate course on Lie Groups? It may be called Lie groups, or advanced mathematical methods, or something else but that will be the most useful.

 

[Visceral]

Does your physics department have a graduate course on Lie Groups? It may be called Lie groups, or advanced mathematical methods, or something else but that will be the most useful.

I am afraid they do not. The only Lie-type course available is Lie Algebras in the math department, and it is a 700 level course(the highest level grad school courses here). I was thinking this could be overkill though for physics? Or would a full blown Lie Algebras and in general algebra sequence be very applicable?

 

[Jorriss]

I am afraid they do not. The only Lie-type course available is Lie Algebras in the math department, and it is a 700 level course(the highest level grad school courses here). I was thinking this could be overkill though for physics? Or would a full blown Lie Algebras and in general algebra sequence be very applicable?

I am not a graduate student or a physicists so I can not comment on the utility of something so advanced but generally, graduate math courses are a ways away from what one actually does in physics. Will it help with physics? Yeah, maybe a bit. But is it the best way to spend ones time to prepare for particle physics? Probably not.

 

[Visceral]

I am not a graduate student or a physicists so I can not comment on the utility of something so advanced but generally, graduate math courses are a ways away from what one actually does in physics. Will it help with physics? Yeah, maybe a bit. But is it the best way to spend ones time to prepare for particle physics? Probably not.

Yes I understand and agree. I just want to make learning quantum field theory as "easy" as I can. Thanks for the advice. I will probably go with the algebra sequence. I will still probably take differential geometry though, since I love multivariate calculus