Joseph I. Kapusta, Charles Gale - Finite-Temperature Field Theory: Principles and Applications
Published: 2006-08-21 | ISBN: 0521820820 | PDF | 442 pages | 3 MB
Thoroughly revised and updated, this new edition develops the basic formalism and theoretical techniques for studying relativistic field theory at finite temperature and density. It starts with the path-integral representation of the partition function and then proceeds to develop diagrammatic perturbation techniques. Topics covered include renormalization, linear response theory, spontaneously broken symmetries, lattice gauge theory, and nucleation theory. The standard model is discussed, along with the nature of the phase transitions in strongly interacting systems and applications to relativistic heavy ion collisions, dense stellar objects, and the early universe.