Quantum Field Theory [Paperback]

A pedagogical account of quantum field theory incorporating modern methods.Many techniques have been developed in recent years that extend and clarify quantum field theory. Incorporating the most current methods, this book starts from the theory's foundation in quantum mechanics to provide a modern pedagogic account that incorporates its first principles.Many techniques have been developed in recent years that extend and clarify quantum field theory. Incorporating the most current methods, this book starts from the theory's foundation in quantum mechanics to provide a modern pedagogic account that incorporates its first principles.Quantum field theory is the basic theory of elementary particle physics. In recent years, many techniques have been developed that extend and clarify this theory. This book develops quantum field theory starting from its foundation in quantum mechanics and incorporates the most modern methods, giving a thoroughly modern pedagogic account that starts from first principles. The path integral formulation is introduced right at the beginning. The method of dimensional continuation is employed to regulate and renormalize the theory. This facilitates the introduction of the concepts of the renormalization group at an early stage. The notion of spontaneous symmetry breakdown is also introduced early on by the example of superfluid helium. Topics in quantum electrodynamics are described that have an analog in quantum chromodynamics. Some novel techniques are employed, such as the use of dimensional continuation to compute the Lamb shift. This book is appropriate as a graduate level text in theoretical physics and particle physics, and is complete with exercises for practice.1. Quantum mechanics, functional integrals; 2. Many-particle systems; 3. Elementary scalar field theory; 4. Elementary processes; 5. Renormalization; 6. Structural aspects; 7. Fields with spin; 8. QED; Bibliography; Index. Marked by its astute choice of topics as well as by thel“.