Finite-Temperature Field Theory: Principles and Applications (Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics) - Hardcover

Kapusta, Joseph I.; Gale, Charles

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521820820 ISBN 13: 9780521820820

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2006

Synopsis

The 2006 second edition of this book develops the basic formalism and theoretical techniques for studying relativistic quantum field theory at high temperature and density. Specific physical theories treated include QED, QCD, electroweak theory, and effective nuclear field theories of hadronic and nuclear matter. Topics include: functional integral representation of the partition function, diagrammatic expansions, linear response theory, screening and plasma oscillations, spontaneous symmetry breaking, Goldstone theorem, resummation and hard thermal loops, lattice gauge theory, phase transitions, nucleation theory, quark-gluon plasma, and color superconductivity. Applications to astrophysics and cosmology cover white dwarf and neutron stars, neutrino emissivity, baryon number violation in the early universe, and cosmological phase transitions. Applications to relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions are also included. The book is written for theorists in elementary particle physics, nuclear physics, astrophysics, and cosmology. Problems are given at the end of each chapter, and numerous references to the literature are included.

About this title

About the Author

Joseph I. Kapusta is Professor of Physics at the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Charles Gale is Professor of Physics at the Department of Physics, McGill University, Montreal.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521820820
• ISBN 13: 9780521820820
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 442