Product Description

This is the second volume of the third edition of a successful text, now substantially enlarged and updated to reflect developments over the last decade in the curricula of university courses and in particle physics research. Building on the foundations outlined in the first volume, this book provides a complete, accessible, and self-contained introduction to the remaining two gauge theories of the standard model of particle physics: quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and the electroweak theory. It includes two new chapters on the renormalization group and scaling violations in deep inelastic scattering and non-perturbative aspects of QCD using the lattice (path-integral) formulation of quantum field theory.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #220741 in Books
• Published on: 2003-12-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 466 pages

From the Back Cover
This is the second volume of the third edition of a successful text, now substantially enlarged and updated to reflect developments over the last decade in the curricula of university courses and in particle physics research. Volume I covered relativistic quantum mechanics, electromagnetism as a gauge theory, and introductory quantum field theory, and ended with the formulation and application of quantum electrodynamics (QED), including renormalization. Building on these foundations, this second volume provides a complete, accessible, and self-contained introduction to the remaining two gauge theories of the standard model of particle physics: quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and the electroweak theory.

The treatment significantly extends that of the second edition in several important respects. Simple ideas of group theory are now incorporated into the discussion of non-Abelian symmetries. Two new chapters have been added on QCD, one devoted to the renormalization group and scaling violations in deep inelastic scattering and the other to non-perturbative aspects of QCD using the lattice (path-integral) formulation of quantum field theory; the latter is also used to illuminate various aspects of renormalization theory, via analogies with condensed matter systems. Three chapters treat the fundamental topic of spontaneous symmetry breaking: the (Bogoliubov) superfluid and the (BCS) superconductor are studied in some detail; one chapter is devoted to the implications of global chiral symmetry breaking in QCD; and one to the breaking of local SU(2)xU(1) symmetry in the electroweak theory. Weak interaction phenomenology is extended to include discussion of discrete symmetries and of the possibility that neutrinos are Majorana (rather than Dirac) particles.

Most of these topics are normally found only in more advanced texts, and this is the first book to treat them in a manner accessible to the wide readership that the previous editions have attracted.

Customer Reviews

QFT explained at last!
I have hesitated a while before writing this brief review because I am not a physicist.I do however have a deep interest in physics and a pretty good grasp of non-relativistic QM.My problem has been the difficult jump from the relativistic equations to an understanding of QFT.My large collection of[mostly `introductory`]texts on QFT rapidly become impenetrable.This wonderful book,which is very different from it`s earlier editions, isn`t and I really wanted to let other field tiros know about it.The key word is `accessible`.The book follows a clear and precise path from a qualitative introduction to the Standard Model,the concept of gauge and the relativistic equations through to canonical quantisation of the field,a scalar field model then simple processes in QED and beyond.Wick`s theorem and the Dyson expansion appear naturally and there are excellent appendices summarising NRQM,scattering,Green functions,complex integration etc.The typeface and layout are excellent and there are problems at the end of each chapter.One of my favourite aspects is the relatively informal style of writing.I always like this in academic texts.Parts of this book flow like a novel and it has accompanied me to the beach on holiday in Spain to advantage!

QFT explained at last!
I have hesitated a while before writing this brief review because I am not a physicist. I do however have a deep interest in physics and a pretty good grasp of non-relativistic QM. My problem has been the difficult jump from the relativistic equations to an understanding of QFT. My large collection [mostly `introductory`]texts on QFT rapidly become impenetrable. This wonderful book, which is very different from it`s earlier editions, isn`t and I really wanted to let other field tiros know about it. The key word is `accessible`. The book follows a clear and precise path from a qualitative introduction to the standard Model, the concept of gauge and the relativistic equations through to canonical quantisation of the field, a scalar field model then simple processes in QED and beyond. Wick`s theorem and the Dyson expansion appear naturally and there are excellent appendices summarising NRQM, scattering, Green functions,complex integration etc. The typeface and layout are excellent and there are problems at the end of each chapter. One of the best features is the relatively informal writing style. I like this in academic texts. Parts of this book read like a novel - it`s even accompanied me to a Spanish beach! Highly recommended.

Excellent introductory book
I found this book extremely useful as an introduction to QED, covering all of the necessary background theory, explained in an accessible manner.