NPTEL : Relativistic Quantum Mechanics (Physics)

Co-ordinators : Prof. Apoorva D Patel


Lecture 1 - Introduction, The Klein-Gordon equation

Lecture 2 - Particles and antiparticles, Two component framework

Lecture 3 - Coupling to electromagnetism, Solution of the Coulomb problem

Lecture 4 - Bohr-Sommerfeld semiclassical solution of the Coulomb problem, The Dirac equation and the Clifford algebra

Lecture 5 - Dirac matrices, Covariant form of the Dirac equation, Equations of motion, Spin, Free particle solutions

Lecture 6 - Electromagnetic interactions, Gyromagnetic ratio

Lecture 7 - The Hydrogen atom problem, Symmetries, Parity, Separation of variables

Lecture 8 - The Frobenius method solution, Energy levels and wavefunctions

Lecture 9 - Non-relativistic reduction, The Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation

Lecture 10 - Interpretation of relativistic corrections, Reflection from a potential barrier

Lecture 11 - The Klein paradox, Pair creation process and examples

Lecture 12 - Zitterbewegung, Hole theory and antiparticles

Lecture 13 - Charge conjugation symmetry, Chirality, Projection operators, The Weyl equation

Lecture 14 - Weyl and Majorana representations of the Dirac equation, Unitary and antiunitary symmetries

Lecture 15 - Time reversal symmetry, The PCT invariance

Lecture 16 - Arrow of time and particle-antiparticle asymmetry, Band theory for graphene

Lecture 17 - Dirac equation structure of low energy graphene states, Relativistic signatures in graphene properties

Lecture 18 - Groups and symmetries, The Lorentz and Poincare groups

Lecture 19 - Group representations, generators and algebra, Translations, rotations and boosts

Lecture 20 - The spinor representation of SL(2,C), The spin-statistics theorem

Lecture 21 - Finite dimensional representations of the Lorentz group, Euclidean and Galilean groups

Lecture 22 - Classification of one particle states, The little group, Mass, spin and helicity

Lecture 23 - Massive and massless one particle states

Lecture 24 - P and T transformations, Lorentz covariance of spinors

Lecture 25 - Lorentz group classification of Dirac operators, Orthogonality and completeness of Dirac spinors, Projection operators

Lecture 26 - Propagator theory, Non-relativistic case and causality

Lecture 27 - Relativistic case, Particle and antiparticle contributions, Feynman prescription and the propagator

Lecture 28 - Interactions and formal perturbative theory, The S-matrix and Feynman diagrams

Lecture 29 - Trace theorems for products of Dirac matrices

Lecture 30 - Photons and the gauge symmetry

Lecture 31 - Abelian local gauge symmetry, The covariant derivative and invariants

Lecture 32 - Charge quantisation, Photon propagator, Current conservation and polarisations

Lecture 33 - Feynman rules for Quantum Electrodynamics, Nature of perturbative expansion

Lecture 34 - Dyson's analysis of the perturbation series, Singularities of the S-matrix, Elementary QED processes

Lecture 35 - The T-matrix, Coulomb scattering

Lecture 36 - Mott cross-section, Compton scattering

Lecture 37 - Klein-Nishina result for cross-section

Lecture 38 - Photon polarisation sums, Pair production through annihilation

Lecture 39 - Unpolarised and polarised cross-sections

Lecture 40 - Helicity properties, Bound state formation

Lecture 41 - Bound state decay, Non-relativistic potentials

Lecture 42 - Lagrangian formulation of QED, Divergences in Green's functions, Superficially divergent 1-loop diagrams and regularisation

Lecture 43 - Infrared divergences due to massless particles, Renormalisation and finite physical results

Lecture 44 - Symmetry constraints on Green's functions, Furry's theorem, Ward-Takahashi identity, Spontaneous breaking of gauge symmetry and superconductivity

Lecture 45 - Status of QED, Organisation of perturbative expansion, Precision tests