Conformal field theories play a important role in various aspects of theoretical and mathematical physics, namely in superstring theory, statistical mechanics and in the theory of integrable systems. After having reviewed (if necessary) some basic concepts of quantum field theory, I will introduce fundamental notions of two-dimensional conformal field theory: conformal transformations, primary fields, conformal Ward identities, Virasoro algebra and its representations, operator formalism. I will then focus on an important class of conformal field theories, the Wess-Zumino-Witten models, which will justify a digression on affine Lie algebras and on the geometry of Lie group manifolds.

13 of April, 13-15h, Room DC/1/26
16,17,19,24,27,30 of April, 14-16h, Room DC/1/26