Quantum Theory in Curved Spacetime

Basic knowledge of General Relativity and Quantum Field Theory. It should be enough if student passed the courses General Relativity I and Introduction to QFT.

w sali

This course is an introduction to quantum field theory in curve space-times. It will cover such topics like problem of vacuum, particle creation in the expanding universe, observation of the thermal bath of particles by an accelerating observer (Unruh effect), particle creation by a black hole (Hawking radiation), anomaly of the stress energy tensor etc. It covers mainly free theory.

The list of topics includes:

1. Particle creations in expanding universe, Bogoliubov transformations

2. Formulation of the QFT on the curved background, propagators, quasifree states

3. Non uniqueness of vacua, Hadamard condition, wave front sets,

4. Renormalization of the stress energy tensor, anomaly, quantum energy inequalities

5. Unruh (thermal behavior of the vacuum in the exterior of a black hole and in the Rindler wedge)

6. Hawking radiation

Time permitting:

7. Quantum field theory in de Sitter,

8. Interacting QFT in curved spacetime (Epstein-Glaser renormalization, classification of counterterms for the phi^4 theory)

Birrell, Davies "Quantum field theory in curved spacetime" CUP 1982

Fulling "Aspects of quantum field theory in curved space-time" CUP 1989

Wald "Quantum field theory in curved spacetime and black hole thermodynamics" University of Chicago Press 1994

Parkers, Toms "Quantum field theory in curved spacetime: Quantized fields and gravity" CUP 2009

and other references given during the course.

Understanding of the differences between QFT in curved spacetime and QFT in Minkowski, ability to formulate and solve some simple problems of QFT locally (in restricted region of the spacetime),

understanding of (and ability to compute) various particle creation problems.

Actively attending exercises and presenting solutions to the given problems. Alternative way: oral exam. No requirement of presence on the lectures.