Thermal Field Theory

Michel. Le Bellac (Författare)

ISBN 9780511721700 · ebook

utgivning

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1996

online resource (xiv, 256 sidor)

Seriemedlemskap

Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics · ISSN 0269-8242 · Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics

Michel Le Bellac

Onlineresurs

Digital resurs · 3 bibliotek

Finns online:

Table of Contents / Abstracts

kategori

Ej skönlitteratur

ämne

Many-body problem, Quantum chromodynamics, High temperatures, Field theory (Physics), Mathematical physics, Quark-gluon plasma, Particles (Nuclear physics), Relativistic astrophysics

Annat bärarformat

Thermal Field Theory · ISBN 9780521460408 (Print version:)

Fler detaljer Referera

Sammanfattning

This text introduces the theoretical framework for describing the quark-gluon plasma, an important new state of matter. The first part of this book is a self-contained introduction to relativistic thermal field theory. Topics include the path integral approach, the real and the imaginary time formalisms, fermion fields and gauge fields at finite temperature. Useful techniques such as the evaluation of frequency sums or the use of cutting rules are illustrated on various examples. The second part of the book is devoted to recent developments, giving a detailed account of collective excitations (bosonic and fermionic), and showing how they give rise to energy scales which imply a reorganization of perturbation theory. The relation with kinetic theory is also explained. Applications to processes which occur in heavy ion collisions and in astrophysics are worked out in detail. Each chapter ends with exercises and a guide to the literature.

Innehållsförteckning

1. Introduction -- 2. Quantum statistical mechanics -- 3. The scalar field at finite temperature -- 4. Simple applications of perturbation theory -- 5. Dirac and gauge fields at finite temperature -- 6. Collective excitations in a plasma -- 7. Hard thermal loops and resummation -- 8. Dynamical screening -- 9. Neutrino emission from stars -- 10. Infrared problems at finite temperature