This book is a modern introduction to the ideas and techniques of quantum field theory. After a brief overview of particle physics and a survey of relativistic wave equations and Lagrangian methods, the author develops the quantum theory of scalar and spinor fields, and then of gauge fields. The emphasis throughout is on functional methods, which have played a large part in modern field theory. The book concludes with a brief survey of "topological" objects in field theory and, new to this edition, a chapter devoted to supersymmetry. Graduate students in particle physics and high energy physics will benefit from this book.

Table of Contents

1.Introduction: synopsis of particle physics 

2.Single-particle relativistic wave equations 

3.Lagrangian formulation, symmetries and gauge fields

4.Canonical quantisation and particle interpretation

5.Path integrals and quantum mechanics

6.Path-integral quantisation and Feynman rules: scalar and spinor fields 

7.Path-integral quantisation: gauge fields 

8.Spontaneous symmetry breaking and the Weinberg-Salam model

9.Renormalisation

10.Topological objects in field theory 

11.Supersymmetry

Review

"It is very strongly recommended to anyone seeking an elementary introduction to modern approaches to quantum field theory." Physics Bulletin

Book Description

A modern pedagogic introduction to the ideas and techniques of quantum field theory.