Universität Wien
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260048 VO Introduction to conformal field theory (2016W)

2.50 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 26 - Physik
Moodle

Details

Language: German, English

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 06.10. 09:30 - 11:00 Josef-Stefan-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, 3. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 13.10. 09:30 - 11:00 Josef-Stefan-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, 3. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 20.10. 09:30 - 11:00 Josef-Stefan-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, 3. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 27.10. 09:30 - 11:00 Josef-Stefan-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, 3. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 03.11. 09:30 - 11:00 Josef-Stefan-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, 3. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 10.11. 09:30 - 11:00 Josef-Stefan-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, 3. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 17.11. 09:30 - 11:00 Josef-Stefan-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, 3. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 24.11. 09:30 - 11:00 Josef-Stefan-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, 3. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 01.12. 09:30 - 11:00 Josef-Stefan-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, 3. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 15.12. 09:30 - 11:00 Josef-Stefan-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, 3. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 12.01. 09:30 - 11:00 Josef-Stefan-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, 3. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 19.01. 09:30 - 11:00 Josef-Stefan-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, 3. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 26.01. 09:30 - 11:00 Josef-Stefan-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, 3. Stk., 1090 Wien

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Conformal field theories, i.e. field theories with an invariance under angle-preserving transformations, arise for example in string theory and in the description of phase transitions.

The course provides an introduction to conformal quantum field theories in any dimension with a particular focus on the two-dimensional case, which on the one hand is interesting because many explicit results are available, and which on the other hand plays a prominent role for the world-sheet description of a string.

Preliminary outline:
1. Introduction: Why study conformal field theories?
2. Conformal transformations
3. Free massless fields
4. General properties of conformal field theories
5. Correlation functions
6. Operator algebra and conformal bootstrap
7. Two-dimensional conformal field theories
8. Minimal models
9. Modular invariance and black hole entropy

Assessment and permitted materials

Written exam (no material permitted)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

An exam with 50% or more of the points counts as passed.

Examination topics

Complete content of the course

Reading list

A. Belavin, A. Polyakov, A. Zamolodchikov, Infinite conformal symmetry in two-dimensional quantum field theory, Nuclear Physics B241 (1984) 333-380
R. Blumenhagen, E. Plauschinn, Introduction to Conformal Field Theory - with applications to String Theory, Springer 2009
P. Di Francesco, P. Matthieu, D. Sénéchal, Conformal field theory, Springer 1997
P. Ginsparg, Applied conformal field theory, Les Houches Summer School 1988, hep-th/9108028
M. Henkel, Conformal invariance and critical phenomena, Springer 1999
K.-H. Rehren, Konforme Quantenfeldtheorie (in German), lecture notes, a pdf-file is available on Rehren's homepage
S. Rychkov, EPFL Lectures on Conformal Field Theory in D>=3 dimensions, arXiv:1601.05000
M. Schottenloher, A mathematical introduction to conformal field theory, Lecture Notes in Physics, Springer 1997

Association in the course directory

MF 5, MaG 16

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:40