Supersymmetry

This document is the syllabus for the PHY 396T Supersymmetry course as taught in Fall 2000 by Dr. Vadim Kaplunovsky. This is a special topics course, so its future offereings (if any) will vary.

Required Knowledge

The Supersymmetry course presumes graduate-level knowledge of Quantum Field Theory. It does not matter where and how you acquired this knowledge -- there are no bureaucratic prerequisites for this course -- but you must know QFT in order to understand SUSY.

Course Content

  • Superalgebras, supermultiplets and supersymmetric field theories.
  • Superfield formalism (N=1 SUSY in d=4).
  • Supersymmetric Standard Model.
  • Non-perturbative dynamics of supersymmetric gauge theories.

    • Textbooks

    This course does not follow any particular book, but the following textbooks will be very useful:

  • The Quantum Theory of Fields by Steven Weinberg, volume 3. In spite of idiosyncratic notation, this is a very good reference book for almost any subject.
  • Supersymmetry and Supergravity by Julius Wess and John Bagger. A good introductory book.
  • Superspace or 1001 Lesson in Supersymmetry by Gates, Grisaru, Rocek and Siegel. This book is now available on line in PDF format at the hep-th archive ( local copy ). Don't print the whole book at UTTG or Physics Dept. printers -- it is 585 pages thick.

    • Homeworks, Exams and Grades

    The homeworks for this class will be assigned in class. Typically, I would ask you to complete (or work out the details of) a calculation began (or scetched out) in class or to read some periferal-but-interesting material in the textbook. The homeworks are assigned on the honor system, they will not be graded. Cooperation is encouraged as long as every student thoroughly understands the whole work. (Unlike in the QFT class I taught last year) I will not post solution on the web, so please check each other's work.

    The grade will be based on two take-home exams, one in the middle of the semester, the other at the end. Unlike the homeworks, the exams must be done by individual students without any help from anybody else! There will be no in-class final exams.

  • Mid-term Exam: (tex, dvi, pdf, ps), due November 6 (Tuesday), 2001, in class.
  • Final Exam: (tex, dvi, pdf, ps), due December 14 (Friday), 2001 -- note extension -- before 4 PM.
    Warning: Printed version distributed in class has several errors. The on-line version has been corrected at 17:15 on December 10. Please download the corrected version!
    OOPS: Another error was found and corrected at 13:45 on December 11. Please download the corrected version again!
    •

    Logistics

  • Lectures: Tuesdays, 3:30 to 5 PM in room RLM 14.318, and Thursdays, 3:30 to 5 PM in room RLM 11.204.
    Note room change!
  • Office: RLM-9.314A. Students are welcome whenever I'm in my office and not too busy. The best time to find me is early evening 5 to 6 PM.
  • Email: vadim@physics.utexas.edu. Please do not ask complicated physics questions via e-mail.

    • Extension

  • The course will continue in the Spring 2002 semester.
  • This extension is unofficial, hence no registration or grades.
  • Lectures once a week, on Thursdays in room RLM 7.104.
  • No lectures when there is a Theory Seminar on Thursday or when I am out of town. Expect 10 to 12 lectures altogether.
  • First Spring lecture on January 31.
  • Next 3 lectures on February 7, 14, 21, at the usual time and place.
  • February 28: Lecture cancelled due to instructor illness.
  • March 7: A lecture is expected at the usual time and place, but it might be cancelled at the last minute.
  • March 14: No lecture during the break.
  • March 21, 28: Lectures at the usual time and place.
  • April 4, 11, 18 and 25: Lectures at the usual time and place.
  • No lecture on May 2.

    • Supplementary Notes

  • Supersymmetric field theories in diverse dimensions: An overview (tex, dvi, ps, pdf).
    • Last Modified: April 3, 2002.
    Vadim Kaplunovsky
    vadim@physics.utexas.edu