An Informal Introduction to Gauge Field Theories [Paperback]

In this short book Dr Aitchison gives an introduction to quantum electrodynamics, a knowledge of which is essential in understanding modern particle physics.Four forces are dominant in physics: gravity, electromagnetism and the weak and strong nuclear forces. Quantum electrodynamics - the highly successful theory of the electromagnetic interaction - is a gauge field theory. In this short book Dr Aitchison gives an introduction to these theories, a knowledge of which is essential in understanding modern particle physics.Four forces are dominant in physics: gravity, electromagnetism and the weak and strong nuclear forces. Quantum electrodynamics - the highly successful theory of the electromagnetic interaction - is a gauge field theory. In this short book Dr Aitchison gives an introduction to these theories, a knowledge of which is essential in understanding modern particle physics.Four forces are dominant in physics: gravity, electromagnetism and the weak and strong nuclear forces. Quantum electrodynamics - the highly successful theory of the electromagnetic interaction - is a gauge field theory, and it is now believed that the weak and strong forces also can be described by generalizations of this type of theory. In this short book Dr Aitchison gives an introduction to these theories, a knowledge of which is essential in understanding modern particle physics. With the assumption that the reader is already familiar with the rudiments of quantum field theory and Feynman graphs, his aim has been to provide a coherent, self-contained and yet elementary account of the theoretical principles and physical ideas behind gauge field theories.Preface; 1. Introduction and motivations; 2. Symmetries in quantum field theory: I. Manifest; 3. Gauge fields and the gauge principle; 4. Quantisation of vector fields: I. Massless; 5. Quantisation of vector fields: II. Massive; 6. Symmetry in quantum field theory: II. Hidden; 7. Theory of weak and electromagnetic interactions; 8. RenormalC