Is knowledge of scattering theory necessary for studying Quantum Field Theory?

AI Thread Summary
Knowledge of scattering theory is not essential for studying Quantum Field Theory (QFT), especially if one has a foundational understanding of quantum mechanics and linear algebra. Introductory QFT courses will cover necessary concepts, alleviating concerns about prior knowledge in perturbation theory. However, for advanced studies, familiarity with Lebesgue integration, distributions, functional analysis, and representations of Lie groups may be beneficial. Understanding scattering from non-relativistic quantum mechanics can also enhance comprehension, as the formalism is similar. Overall, prior exposure to these topics is helpful but not mandatory for beginning QFT.
jamesmaxwell
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Please let me know what lecture I have to previously take.
I already took undergraduate level lecture of quantum mechanics and mathematical physics.

And I also want to know that perturbation and scattering theory is hardly important on studying QFT..I'm so worry about that I didn't study hard when my professor dealt with that contents.



Thanks in advance and please be lenient my English cause I'm not from the English-speaking world so I do not speak English well...
 
Physics news on Phys.org
jamesmaxwell said:
Please let me know what lecture I have to previously take.
I already took undergraduate level lecture of quantum mechanics and mathematical physics.

And I also want to know that perturbation and scattering theory is hardly important on studying QFT..I'm so worry about that I didn't study hard when my professor dealt with that contents.
For almost all introductory QFT classes it's sufficient to know the basics of quantum mechanics and linear algebra. Don't worry about not knowing any kind of perturbation theory already. Everything you need will be explained in the QFT course.

If you intend to go very deep into the subject, you will also have to learn about Lebesgue integration, distributions, functional analysis, and representations of Lie groups and Lie algebras.
 
Scattering from non-rel QM is good to know, the formalism and concepts are almost the same.
 
After a year of thought, I decided to adjust my ratio for applying the US/EU(+UK) schools. I mostly focused on the US schools before, but things are getting complex and I found out that Europe is also a good place to study. I found some institutes that have professors with similar interests. But gaining the information is much harder than US schools (like you have to contact professors in advance etc). For your information, I have B.S. in engineering (low GPA: 3.2/4.0) in Asia - one SCI...
I graduated with a BSc in Physics in 2020. Since there were limited opportunities in my country (mostly teaching), I decided to improve my programming skills and began working in IT, first as a software engineer and later as a quality assurance engineer, where I’ve now spent about 3 years. While this career path has provided financial stability, I’ve realized that my excitement and passion aren’t really there, unlike what I felt when studying or doing research in physics. Working in IT...
Hello, I’m an undergraduate student pursuing degrees in both computer science and physics. I was wondering if anyone here has graduated with these degrees and applied to a physics graduate program. I’m curious about how graduate programs evaluated your applications. In addition, if I’m interested in doing research in quantum fields related to materials or computational physics, what kinds of undergraduate research experiences would be most valuable?

Similar threads

Replies
0
Views
2K
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
2K
Back
Top