Description
Book SynopsisA thoroughly modern graduate-level introduction to the theory of critical behaviour.
Trade Review' … a short but very intelligible textbook well equilibrated by a variety of material.' V. Zagrebnov, Zentralblatt Math
'Supported with interesting exercises at the end of each chapter, Cardy's book is likely to prove a popular introduction to this demanding but extraordinarily successful method for probing many complex phenomena.' Robert Matthews New Scientist
Table of ContentsPreface; 1. Phase transitions in simple systems; 2. Mean field theory; 3. The renormalization group idea; 4. Phase diagrams and fixed points; 5. The perturbative renormalization group; 6. Near two dimensions; 7. Surface critical behaviour; 8. Random systems; 9. Polymer statistics; 10. Critical dynamics; 11. Conformal symmetry; Appendix: Gaussian integration; Selected bibliography; Index.
