Gauge Field Theories / Edition 2

by Stefan Pokorski

Overview

Quantum field theory forms the present theoretical framework for our understanding of the fundamental interactions of particle physics. This updated and expanded volume examines gauge theories and their symmetries with an emphasis on their physical and technical aspects. A new introductory chapter gives a systematic overview to classical field theories and a short discussion of their canonical quantization and the discrete symmetries C, P and T. Coverage provides a brief exposition of perturbation theory, the renormalization program, and the use of the renormalization group equation. It then explores topics of current research interest including chiral symmetry and its breaking, anomalies, and low energy effective Lagrangians and some basics of supersymmetry. A chapter on the basics of the electroweak theory is also new to this edition, as well as an appendix that contains a complete set of Feynman rules for the Standard Model. This volume will be ideal for graduate students and researchers in theoretical physics, condensed matter physics, and applied mathematics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521478168
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/13/2000
Series:	Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	632
Product dimensions:	7.52(w) x 9.53(h) x 1.34(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Introduction; 1. Classical fields, symmetries and their breaking; 2. Path integral formulation of quantum field theory; 3. Feynman rules for Yang-Mills theories; 4. Introduction to the theory of renormalization; 5. Quantum electrodynamics; 6. Renormalization group; 7. Scale invariance and operator product expansion; 8. Quantum chromodynamics; 9. Chiral symmetry, spontaneous symmetry breaking; 10. Spontaneous and explicit global symmetry breaking; 11. Higgs mechanisms in gauge theories; 12. Standard electroweak theory; 13. Chiral anomalies; 14. Effective lagrangians; 15. Introduction to supersymmetry; Appendices.

Editorial Reviews

"The book is thoughtfully planned and very well written. The exposition of difficult points is very clear...For students who have already had an introductory course in field theory, and for research workers in the field, I know of no better and more complete guide." L.H. Ryder, Times Higher Education Supplement

From the Publisher

A textbook for a graduate course in theoretical physics for students with some knowledge of quantum field theory in its canonical formulation. A highly technical treatment, it discusses physical problems only as illustrations of certain theoretical ideas and computational methods, and makes no attempt to review the present status of the theory of fundamental interactions. Pokorski (theoretical particle physics, Warsaw U.) revises the 1987 first edition by including an introduction to classical field theories and a brief discussion of their canonical quantization, and a self-contained introduction to the electroweak theory. The appendices have also been extended. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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