A gentle introduction to the physics of quantized fields and many-body physics. Based on courses taught at the University of Illinois, it concentrates on the basic conceptual issues that many students find difficult, and emphasizes the physical and visualizable aspects of the subject. While the text is intended for students with a wide range of interests, many of the examples are drawn from condensed matter physics because of the tangible character of such systems. The first part of the book uses the Hamiltonian operator language of traditional quantum mechanics to treat simple field theories and related topics, while the Feynman path integral is introduced in the second half where it is seen as indispensable for understanding the connection between renormalization and critical as well as non-perturbative phenomena.
- ISBN13 9781461267942
- Publish Date 4 October 2012 (first published 28 December 1999)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
- Edition Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2000
- Format Paperback
- Pages 271
- Language English