AGQ: Conformal Field Theory MATHS5095

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Mathematics and Statistics
  • Credits: 15
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This course will introduce students to two-dimensional conformal field theory.

Timetable

2 hour sessions weekly.

The AGQ program will be setting the timing.

 

Classroom as well as equipment for online delivery to transmit the course to Edinburgh.

Requirements of Entry

This is a non-required course for students in the AGQ programme. With permission from AGQ directors students not enrolled in AGQ may also take this course.

Excluded Courses

none

Co-requisites

none

Assessment

Normally students will complete course work.

Course Aims

This course aims at a thorough exposition of the main structures of conformal field theory, including conformal geometry on the (extended) complex plain, correlation functions, Ward identities, radial quantisation, operator product expansion, Virasoro algebra and conformal families. The emphasis in the course is on conceptual clarity rather than on the breadth of examples and connections. Another important aim is the development of basic computational skills needed to perform operator product expansions and to work with Virasoro algebra representations.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

This course is an introduction to two-dimensional conformal field theory. This is a well-developed branch of mathematical physics with many connections to other topics in mathematics such as infinite-dimensional Lie algebras, vertex operator algebras, modular tensor categories and theory of modular forms. On completion of this course, the student will be able to develop conceptual clarity rather than on the breadth of examples and connections and to develop basic computational skills needed to perform operator product expansions and to work with Virasoro algebra representations.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.