Description
Book SynopsisThis book introduces quantum field theory, together with its most important applications to cosmology and astroparticle physics, in a coherent framework. The path integral approach is employed right from the start, and the use of Green functions and generating functionals is illustrated first in quantum mechanics and then in scalar field theory. Massless spin one and two fields are discussed on an equal footing, and gravity is presented as a gauge theory in close analogy with the Yang-Mills case. Concepts relevant to modern research such as helicity methods, effective theories, decoupling, or the stability of the electroweak vacuum are introduced. Various applications such as topological defects, dark matter, baryogenesis, processes in external gravitational fields, inflation and black holes help students to bridge the gap between undergraduate courses and the research literature.
Trade ReviewThis book treats two fields of physics that are usually taught separately quantum field theory (QFT) on one side and cosmology and gravitation on the other in a more unified manner. This volume can serve as a textbook for courses in QFT, astroparticle physics and cosmology, and students interested in working at the interface between these fields can certainly appreciate the uncommon approach used. * CERN Courier *
Recommended. * CHOICE *
As a classical textbook, it contains everything to facilitate the preparation of a lecture course or a self-study: many pictures and a lot of exercises. This book is amazingly self-contained. All definitions and all numbers are here. Most of the computations are done from the beginning till the end in all details. * Dmitri V. Vassilevich, Mathematical Review Clippings *
Table of Contents1: Classical Mechanics 2: Quantum Mechanics 3: Free Scalar Field 4: Scalar Field with Lambda phi 4 Interaction 5: Global Symmetries and Noether's Theorom 6: Space-time Symmetries 7: Spin-1 and Spin-2 Fields 8: Fermions and the Dirac Equation 9: Scattering Processes 10: Gauge Theories 11: Renormalisation I: Perturbation Theory 12: Renormalisation II: Improving Perturbation Theory 13: Symmetries and Symmetry Breaking 14: GSW Model of Electroweak Interactions 15: Thermal Field Theory 16: Phase Transitions and Topological Defects 17: Anomalies, Instantons and Axions 18: Hadrons, Partons and QCD 19: Gravity as a Gauge Theory 20: Cosmological Models for a Homogeneous, Isotropic Universe 21: Thermal Relics 22: Baryogenesis 23: Quantum Fields in Curved Space-Time 24: Inflation 25: Black Holes 26: Cosmological Constant
