Relativistic quantum mechanics and introduction to quantum field theory

This course will begin with an introduction to the Dirac equation as it was historically obtained, and use it to reproduce one of the early successes of this equation, relativistic corrections to the hydrogen hamiltonian. We will discuss why despite this success, the original interpretation of the equation was misguided. The main part of the course will introduce all of the machinery needed to arrive at the modern understanding of the Dirac equation. In the process, we will transition from one particle quantum mechanics to quantum field theory. Time permitting, we will introduce scattering theory and the basics of perturbation theory in QFT.