The Quantum Theory of Fields Volume I:Foundations
Douban
Steven Weinberg
Übersicht
In The Quantum Theory of Fields, Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg combines his exceptional physical insight with his gift for clear exposition to provide a self-contained, comprehensive, and up-to-date introduction to quantum field theory. This is a two-volume work. Volume I introduces the foundations of quantum field theory. The development is fresh and logical throughout, with each step carefully motivated by what has gone before, and emphasizing the reasons why such a theory should describe nature. After a brief historical outline, the book begins anew with the principles about which we are most certain, relativity and quantum mechanics, and the properties of particles that follow from these principles. Quantum field theory emerges from this as a natural consequence. The author presents the classic calculations of quantum electrodynamics in a thoroughly modern way, showing the use of path integrals and dimensional regularization. His account of renormalization theory reflects the changes in our view of quantum field theory since the advent of effective field theories. The book's scope extends beyond quantum electrodynamics to elementary particle physics, and nuclear physics. It contains much original material, and is peppered with examples and insights drawn from the author's experience as a leader of elementary particle research. Problems are included at the end of each chapter. This work will be an invaluable reference for all physicists and mathematicians who use quantum field theory, and it is also appropriate as a textbook for graduate students in this area.
(From amazon.com)
contents
PREFACENOTATION1 HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION 1.1 Relativistic Wave Mechanics 1.2 The Birth of Quantum Fiedld Theory 1.3 The Problem of Infinities Bibliography References2 RELATIVISTIC QUANTUM MECHANICS 2.1 Quantum Mechanics 2.2 Symmetries 2.3 Quantum Lorentz Transformations 2.4 The Poincare Algebra 2.5 One-Particle States 2.6 Space Inversion and Time-Reversal 2.7 Projective Representations AppendixA The Symmetry Representation Theorem AppendixB Group Operators and Homotopy Classes AppendixC Inversions and Degenerate Multiplets Problems References3 SCATTERING THEORY 3.1 In and Out States 3.2 The S-matrix 3.3 Symmetries of the S-Matrix 3.4 Rates and Cross-Sections 3.5 Perturbation Theory 3.6 Implications of Unitarity 3.7 Partial-Wave Expansions 3.8 Resonances Problems References4 THE CLUSTER DECOMPOSITON PRINCIPLE 4.1 Bosons and Fermions 4.2 Creation and Annihilation Operators 4.3 Cluster Decomposition and Connected Amplitudes 4.4 Structure of the Interaction5 QUANTUM FIELDS AND ANTIPARTICLES 5.1 Free Fields 5.2 Causal Scalar Fields 5.3 Causal Vector Fields 5.4 The Dirac Formalism 5.5 Causal Dirac Fields 5.6 General Irreducible Representations of the Homogeneous Lorentz Group 5.7 General Causal Fields……6 THE FEYNMAN RULES7 THE CANONICAL FORMALISM8 ELECTRODYNAMICS9 PATH-INTEGRAL METHODS10 NON-PERTURBATIVE METHODS11 ONE-LOOP RADIATIVE CORRECTIONS IN QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS12 GENERAL RENORMALIZATION THEORY13 INFRARED EFFECTS14 BOUND STATES IN EXTERNAL FIELDSAUTHOR INDEXSUBJECT INDEXOUTLINE OF VOLUMEⅡ
