Statistical Field Theory: Strong Coupling, Monte Carlo Methods, Conformal Field Theory, and Random Systems: 02 (Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics) - Softcover

Itzykson, Claude

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521408067 ISBN 13: 9780521408066

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1991

Synopsis

Volume 1: From Brownian Motion to Renormalization and Lattice Gauge Theory. Volume 2: Strong Coupling, Monte Carlo Methods, Conformal Field Theory, and Random Systems. This two-volume work provides a comprehensive and timely survey of the application of the methods of quantum field theory to statistical physics, a very active and fruitful area of modern research. The first volume provides a pedagogical introduction to the subject, discussing Brownian motion, its anticommutative counterpart in the guise of Onsager's solution to the two-dimensional Ising model, the mean field or Landau approximation, scaling ideas exemplified by the Kosterlitz-Thouless theory for the XY transition, the continuous renormalization group applied to the standard phi-to the fourth theory (the simplest typical case) and lattice gauge theory as a pathway to the understanding of quark confinement in quantum chromodynamics. The second volume covers more diverse topics, including strong coupling expansions and their analysis, Monte Carlo simulations, two-dimensional conformal field theory, and simple disordered systems. The book concludes with a chapter on random geometry and the Polyakov model of random surfaces which illustrates the relations between string theory and statistical physics. The two volumes that make up this work will be useful to theoretical physicists and applied mathematicians who are interested in the exciting developments which have resulted from the synthesis of field theory and statistical physics.

About this title

Review

"Considérant la qualité du matériel et de la présentation, je trouve le prix excellent et je ne peux que recommander l'achat de ces deux bouquins." Physics in Canada

"I strongly recommend these two volumes to anyone from intermediate graduate students to active experienced researchers to aging veterans who need to be reminded of or learn for the first time the broad conceptual framework underlying the many current applications of field theoretic methods." Paul Ginsparg, Foundations of Physics

"...a useful addition to a personal or an institutional library at a modest cost." C. A. Hurst, Mathematical Reviews

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0521408067
• ISBN 13: 9780521408066
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 430