A modern introduction to quantum field theory / Michele Maggiore.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Maggiore, Michele.

Series:

Oxford master series in physics ; 12.

Oxford master series in physics ; 12

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Quantum field theory.

Mathematical physics.

Physical Description:

xv, 291 p. : ill.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2005.

Summary:

Quantum field theory has undergone extraordinary developments in the last few decades and permeates many branches of modern research such as particle physics, cosmology, condensed matter, statistical mechanics and critical phenomena. This book introduces the reader to the modern developments in a manner which assumes no previous knowledge of quantum field theory, and makes it readily accessible from the advanced undergraduate level upwards.

Contents:

Intro

Series Page

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Contents

Preface

Notation

1 Introduction

1.1 Overview

1.2 Typical Scales in High-energy Physics

Further Reading

Exercises

2 Lorentz and Poincare Symmetries in QFT

2.1 Lie Groups

2.2 The Lorentz Group

2.3 The Lorentz Algebra

2.4 Tensor Representations

2.4.1 Decomposition of Lorentz Tensors Under SO(3)

2.5 Spinorial Representations

2.5.1 Spinors in Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics

2.5.2 Spinors in the Relativistic Theory

2.6 Field Representations

2.6.1 Scalar Fields

2.6.2 Weyl Fields

2.6.3 Dirac Fields

2.6.4 Majorana Fields

2.6.5 Vector Fields

2.7 The Poincare Group

2.7.1 Representation on Fields

2.7.2 Representation on One-particle States

Summary of Chapter

3 Classical Field Theory

3.1 The Action Principle

3.2 Noether's Theorem

3.2.1 The Energy-momentum Tensor

3.3 Scalar Fields

3.3.1 Real Scalar Fields

Klein-Gordon Equation

3.3.2 Complex Scalar field

U(1) Charge

3.4 Spinor Fields

3.4.1 The Weyl Equation

Helicity

3.4.2 The Dirac Equation

3.4.3 Chiral Symmetry

3.4.4 Majorana Mass

3.5 The Electromagnetic Field

3.5.1 Covariant form of The Free Maxwell Equations

3.5.2 Gauge Invariance

Radiation and Lorentz Gauges

3.5.3 The Energy-momentum Tensor

3.5.4 Minimal and Non-minimal Coupling to Matter

3.6 First Quantization of Relativistic Wave Equations

3.7 Solved Problems

The Fine Structure of the Hydrogen Atom

Relativistic Energy Levels in a Magnetic Field

4 Quantization of Free Fields

4.1 Scalar Fields

4.1.1 Real Scalar Fields. Fock space

4.1.2 Complex Scalar field

Antiparticles

4.2 Spin 1/2 Fields

4.2.1 Dirac Field

4.2.2 Massless Weyl field.

4.2.3 C, P, T

4.3 Electromagnetic Field

4.3.1 Quantization in the Radiation Gauge

4.3.2 Covariant Quantization

5 Perturbation Theory and Feynman Diagrams

5.1 The S-matrix

5.2 The LSZ Reduction Formula

5.3 Setting up the Perturbative Expansion

5.4 The Feynman Propagator

5.5 Wick's Theorem and Feynman Diagrams

5.5.1 A Few very Explicit Computations

5.5.2 Loops and Divergences

5.5.3 Summary of Feynman Rules for a Scalar Field

5.5.4 Feynman Rules for Fermions and Gauge Bosons

5.6 Renormalization

5.7 Vacuum Energy and the Cosmological Constant Problem

5.8 The Modern Point of view on Renormalizability

5.9 The Running of Coupling Constants

6 Cross-sections and Decay Rates

6.1 Relativistic and Non-relativistic Normalizations

6.2 Decay rates

6.3 Cross-sections

6.4 Two-body Final States

6.5 Resonances and the Breit-Wigner Distribution

6.6 Born Approximation and Non-relativistic Scattering

6.7 Solved Problems

Three-body kinematics and Phase Space

Inelastic Scattering of Non-relativistic Electrons on Atoms

7 Quantum Electrodynamics

7.1 The QED Lagrangian

7.2 One-loop Divergences

7.3 Solved Problems

e+ e- -&gt

γ -&gt

μ+ μ-

Electromagnetic form Factors

8 The Low-energy Limit of the Electroweak Theory

8.1 A Four-Fermion Model

8.2 Charged and Neutral Currents in the Standard Model

8.3 Solved Problems: Weak Decays

μ- -&gt

e-ve vμ

Isospin and Flavor SU(3)

K0 -&gt

π- l+ vl

9 Path Integral Quantization

9.1 Path Integral Formulation of Quantum Mechanics.

9.2 Path Integral Quantization of Scalar Fields

9.3 Perturbative Evaluation of the path Integral

9.4 Euclidean Formulation

9.5 QFT and Critical Phenomena

9.6 QFT at Finite Temperature

9.7 Solved Problems

Instantons and Tunneling

10 Non-Abelian Gauge Theories

10.1 Non-Abelian Gauge Transformations

10.2 Yang-Mills Theory

10.3 QCD

10.4 Fields in the Adjoint Representation

11 Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking

11.1 Degenerate Vacua in QM and QFT

11.2 SSB of Global Symmetries and Goldstone Bosons

11.3 Abelian Gauge Theories: SSB and Superconductivity

11.4 Non-abelian Gauge Theories: the Masses of W± and Z0

12 Solutions to Exercises

12.1 Chapter 1

12.2 Chapter 2

12.3 Chapter 3

12.4 Chapter 4

12.5 Chapter 5

12.6 Chapter 6

12.7 Chapter 7

12.8 Chapter 8

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (p. 285-286) and index.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

0-19-152339-9

1-4294-6922-6

1-280-84699-2

OCLC:

437109475