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Book/Website AimThis book and this website aim to make learning quantum field theory (QFT) easier, and thus, more efficient and fulfilling. Both the book and the website are products of extensive student input, incorporate innovative teaching methodologies, and avoid conciseness in favor of elaborate explanations. Every step-by-small-step is included in derivations, and big picture, conceptual overviews (called “wholeness charts”) are provided at every level. Student Comments about This Book/Website“This book will make life easier for a lot of people.” “Exactly what I was looking for. I've been struggling to find meaningful explanations of these concepts" “a fantastic introduction to QFT” “BY FAR the most readable QFT book written I’ve seen.” “Extremely helpful and presented in a very readable and understandable way. If your book had been available earlier, I would have done a lot better in the class.” “.. presents QFT in a simple, systematic, people friendly manner.” “I have studied the subject more than once but never found the conceptual clarity you bring. I'm solving some long lived doubts and enjoying it.” “.. you actually take the students’ well-being into account." “Your ..presentation of .. QFT is the best …I have ever seen!” "This book is truly fantastic." “… a godsend for the students of QFT.” More comments by students and physicists
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Preface (summarizes pedagogic principles employed) Read
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Contents of the BookCHAPS. 1, 2, 3 FULLY AVAILABLE VIA LINKS. PARTS OF CHAPS. 4, 5, 6, AND 18, THE FREE FIELDS WHOLENESS CHART, AND CERTAIN OTHER MATERIAL ALSO AVAILABLE VIA THEIR RESPECTIVE LINKS.
Student Friendly Quantum Field TheoryTM Basic Principles and Quantum ElectrodynamicsTT Chapter 1. Bird's Eye View Intro to, background for, and simplified overview of QFT. Comparison of QFT, non-relativistic quantum mechanics, and relativistic quantum mechanics. Overview of physics and how these three quantum theories are related to each other and to classical theory. Chapter 2. Foundations Natural units, notation, summary of classical variational mechanics, Shrödinger and Heisenberg pictures, summary of quantum theories, 2nd quantization. Appendix: Simplified intro to contravariant/covariant components.
Part I: Free Fields Chapter 3. Scalars: Spin 0 Fields Relativistic quantum mechanics (RQM): deducing the wave equation, relativistic probability density, explanation for “funny” relativistic normalization constants, negative energies. Quantum field theory (QFT): deducing the field equation, deriving coefficient commutators, number operator form of Hamiltonian, vacuum energy, creation and destruction operators, normal ordering, 4 currents, observable operators, bosons and commutators, QFT states as harmonic oscillators, step-by-small-step derivation of the propagator. Chapter 4. Spinors: Spin 1/2 Fields Chapter 5. Vectors: Spin 1 Fields Chapter 6. Symmetry, Invariance, and Conservation for Free Fields Free Fields Wholeness Chart Overview of scalars (Chap. 3), spinors (Chap. 4) and vectors (Chap. 5.) Free fields summary of theory derivation and key relations. Ranges from 2nd quantization and field equations to observables and propagators. This is the same chart found at the end of Chap. 5.
Part II: Interacting Fields Chapter 7. Interactions: The Underlying Theory Chapter 8. QED: Interaction Theory Applied to Electromagnetism Chapter 9. Higher Order Corrections Chapter 10. The Vacuum Revisited Chapter 11. Symmetry, Invariance, and Conservation for Interacting Fields
Part III: Renormalization: Taming Those Notorious Infinities Chapter 12. Overview of Renormalization. Chapter 13. Renormalization Toolkit Chapter 14. Renormalization: Putting It All Together Chapter 15. Regularization
Part IV: Application to Experiment Chapter 16. Postdiction of Historical Experimental Results. Chapter 17. Scattering.
Addenda Chapter 18. Path Integrals in Quantum Theories: A Pedagogic 1st Step Chapter 19. Looking Backward and Looking Forward: Book Summary and What’s Next
Auxiliary Material (augments book)Non Eigen States, Wave Packets, and the Hamiltonian in QFT A look at states in QFT which are not eigenstates of three momentum k, and additionally, wave packet states in QFT. The action of the QFT Hamiltonian on these states is investigated. This material does not seem to be available in any QFT texts. Spreadsheet for text Fig. 18-3
Advanced Material (beyond the level of the text)Chirality and Helicity Chirality vs Helicity summary A summary chart explaining, comparing, and contrasting chirality and helicity, two concepts that are often confused for one another. Chirality and Helicity in Depth Closer look at chirality and helicity using examples, rather than pure theory. Also shows how chirality and helicity become effectively the same thing when v=c. The Seesaw Mechanism A way in which the low mass of neutrinos may be explained.
CopyrightCopyright © 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 of Robert D. Klauber. Until and unless other notice is given, copies of material found herein may only be made by students, instructors, and others solely for their personal use. To include any original material, or original presentation of known material, contained herein in a publication, written prior approval from Robert D. Klauber, or his heirs, is required.
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