PHYS-714: Introduction to field theory of driven-dissipative systems

Summary

This course introduces modern field-theoretical approaches to non-equilibrium systems. Through practical examples from quantum gases/optics, we construct the Keldysh formalism and explore the connections to classical stochastic field theory, hydrodynamics, and the dynamics of phase transitions.

Official source

https://edu.epfl.ch/coursebook/en/introduction-to-field-theory-of-driven-dissipative-systems-PHYS-714

Moodle Page

http://go.epfl.ch/PHYS-714

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Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory in physics that provides a description of the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles. It is the foundation of all quantum physics including quantum chemistry, quantum field theory, quantum technology, and quantum information science. Classical physics, the collection of theories that existed before the advent of quantum mechanics, describes many aspects of nature at an ordinary (macroscopic) scale, but is not sufficient for describing them at small (atomic and subatomic) scales.

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Non-equilibrium thermodynamics is a branch of thermodynamics that deals with physical systems that are not in thermodynamic equilibrium but can be described in terms of macroscopic quantities (non-equilibrium state variables) that represent an extrapolation of the variables used to specify the system in thermodynamic equilibrium. Non-equilibrium thermodynamics is concerned with transport processes and with the rates of chemical reactions.

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Thermodynamics is a branch of physics that deals with heat, work, and temperature, and their relation to energy, entropy, and the physical properties of matter and radiation. The behavior of these quantities is governed by the four laws of thermodynamics which convey a quantitative description using measurable macroscopic physical quantities, but may be explained in terms of microscopic constituents by statistical mechanics.

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