Introduction to Effective Field Theories

Abstract

Abstract Introductory lectures on effective field theory (EFT) methods as used in high-energy physics to compute experimentally observable quantities. Topics covered in this chapter, which is based on these lectures, include power counting, loop corrections, field redefinitions and their relation to the equations of motion, decoupling of heavy particles, naive dimensional analysis, and the standard model effective field theory (SMEFT). It also discusses naturalness and the hiearchy problem in an appendix. There are many exercises with detailed solutions (written up by the students) included to aid understanding of the topic.