Field Quantization

This reprint has been authorized by Springer-Verlag for sale in Africa, Middle/South America, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudia-Arabia, Syria, South-East-Asia and China only Theoretical physics has become a many-faceted science. For the young stu­ dent it is difficult enough to cope with the overwhelming amount of new scientific material that has to be learned, let alone obtain an overview of the entire field, which ranges from mechanics through electrodynamics, quantum mechanics, field theory, nuclear and heavy-ion science, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, and solid-state theory to elementary-particle physics. And this knowledge should be acquired in just 8-10 semesters, during which, in addition, a Diploma or Master's thesis has to be worked on or examinations prepared for. All this can be achieved only if the university teachers help to introduce the student to the new disciplines as early on as possible, in order to create interest and excitement that in turn set free essential new energy. At the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt we therefore con­ front the student with theoretical physics immediately, in the first semester. Theoretical Mechanics I and II, Electrodynamics, and Quantum Mechanics I - An Introduction are the basic courses during the first two years. These lectures are supplemented with many mathematical explanations and much support material. After the fourth semester of studies, graduate work begins, and Quantum Mechanics II - Symmetries, Statistical Mechanics and Ther­ modynamics, Relativistic Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Electrodynamics, the Gauge Theory of Weak Interactions, and Quantum Chromo dynamics are obligatory. Front Matter....Pages I-XIV Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Classical and Quantum Mechanics of Particle Systems....Pages 3-29 Classical Field Theory....Pages 31-54 Front Matter....Pages 55-55 Nonrelativistic Quantum Field Theory....Pages 57-74 Spin-0 Fields: The Klein-Gordon Equation....Pages 75-115 Spin-1/2 Fields: The Dirac Equation....Pages 117-140 Spin-1 Fields: The Maxwell and Proca Equations....Pages 141-170 Quantization of the Photon Field....Pages 171-210 Interacting Quantum Fields....Pages 211-268 The Reduction Formalism....Pages 269-299 Discrete Symmetry Transformations....Pages 301-334 Front Matter....Pages 335-335 The Path-Integral Method....Pages 337-363 Path Integrals in Field Theory....Pages 365-431 Back Matter....Pages 433-441

this Detailed Introduction Develops The Concepts And Techniques Of Field Quantization, Including Both The Traditional Methods Of Cannonical Quantization And The Modern Approach Using Path Integrals. It Is Intended For Readers Well-versed In The Basics Of Quantum Mechanics.