Product Description
Designed as a sequel to the authors' Introduction to Gauge Field Theory, Supersymmetric Gauge Field Theory and String Theory introduces first-year graduate students to supersymmetric theories, including supergravity and superstring theories. Starting with the necessary background in quantum field theory, the book covers the three key topics of high-energy physics. The emphasis is on practical calculations rather than abstract generalities or phenomenological results. Where possible, the authors show how to calculate, connecting the theoretical with the phenomenological. While the field continues to advance and grow, this book addresses the basic theory at the core and will likely remain relevant even if more advanced ideas change. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

good choice
If you are looking for a single book to learn the basics of supersymmetry this is a good choice.It is well written and anyone with knowledge of graduate level QED should be able to follow it.

Like Wess and Bagger, only with (typo-riddled) explanations
I used this book in parallel with Wess and Bagger's Supersymmetry and Supergravity several years back. The two books are structured very similarly; the biggest obvious difference between them is that Bailin and Love has "words" around the equations.

Explanations are generally helpful, and so I would recommend this book to someone learning supersymmetry. However, if you want to rigorously follow along, checking the results yourself, then the typos in (the first edition of) this book will probably cause more frustration than it is worth. The main results are usually correct---the typos tend to appear in the intermediate, "explanatory" steps.

These kinds of typos are benign to the casual reader, but frustrating beyond belief to someone trying to re-derive results. By the second or third time you have wasted hours of your time re-checking your work on an intermediate step before realizing that the text is in error, you may find Wess and Bagger's terse but accurate summary more helpful.

If it weren't for the typos, I would easily give this book 4-5 stars. I am sure that future editions will correct these mistakes.

A great introduction to supersymmetry and string theory
Bailin & Love is a really great book to begin learning supersymmetry from. I read this book while simultaneously reading the first few chapters of Wess & Bagger's susy and sugra text. Much of the detailed calculation and attention to details is missing in B&L and can be found in more sophisticated texts (such as Wess & Bagger and the Weinberg text). I found B&L a good place for wordy explanations which are sorely lacking in W&B. B&L also does a good job of connecting susy to phenomenology by introducing the minimally supersymmetric standard model. The susy in B&L is done in four-component notation to make it more familiar with QED and electroweak calculations. On top of this, all of the calculations are done with component fields; superfields are used only for organization. No formalism of supergraphs is used. Supergravity is also introduced, once again in a more wordy fashion than W&B. Apparently, much of the susy phenomenology is similar to the "Supersymmetry Primer" article by Stephen Martin....

String theory in Bailin & Love is done in a similar fashion as the susy: lots of words without the messy calculation.B&L don't bother with conformal field theory at all and use basically the "old covariant quantization". Once again though, B&L is a great thing to be reading as a companion to Green Schwarz Witten or as a companion to Polchinski.

In the end, Bailin & Love is a great place to begin learning about supersymmetry and string theory. I read it after a year of quantum field theory and found it very quick and easy to read. Bailin & Love does a good job of getting the reader in a good position to read the more advanced texts (Wess & Bagger, Weinberg for susy and GSW and Polchinski for strings). Unfortunately, there are many typos in the equations. Corrections can be found at the author's page ...

Intersting observations for the hard physics
I really enjoyed the observations of professor Bailin about gauge theory, which is quite useful in the field of submoleculer physics and wave theory.However, his writing is quite scientific, which is to be expected in thistype of field, but if particle physics floats your boat, then this would bea good book to buy. ... Read more

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"Co-published with Oxford University Press Long considered the most comprehensive account of electromagnetic theory and analytical methods for solving waveguide and cavity problems, this new Second Edition has been completely revised and thoroughly updated -- approximately 40ew material!Packed with examples and applications FIELD THEORY OF GUIDED WAVES provides solutions to a large number of practical structures of current interest. The book includes an exceptionally complete discussion of scalar and Dyadic Green functions. Both a valuable review and source of basic information on applied mathematical topics and a hands-on source for solution methods and techniques, this book belongs on the desk of all engineers working in microwave and antenna systems!"

Sponsored by:
IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Thank you Robert
A good reference for the student, a good textbook for the professor who teaches a course on either the basics or the advanced principles, a good help for the design engineer who wishes to refresh his memory on the theory.

Complete & extensive work on rf technology
After you read this book you will think that Jackson's 'Classical Electrodynamic' is brief and easy. I was required to learn for my job the physics of waveguides.
I purchased this book because it was recommended by Jackson. In fact Jacksons chapter on waveguide is a summery of what you can find it here.
Although very difficullt to read you can find all information about guided waves you need. I was never required to go beyond this book.

The "Divina Commedia" of Applied Electromagnetism!
Simply staten this is one of the finest books ever written in applied electromagnetics.There is a deligthful analytical treatment of everything related to wave-propagation in waveguides.But Mr Collin is not adry-hearted teacher ,he is able to explain very complicated mathematicalinstruments with a very clear and fresh approach.Expecially good is theGreen Function's treatment which is the best i ever saw in any book.Readingthis book you will be able to progress from the intermediate to the veryadvanced level in Applied Electromagnetism.While it is true that nowadaysthere is a lot of software around that analyses almost every conceivablestructure,it is also true that a analytical study gives you the possibilityto sort the important from the accessory ,a thing no computer system isstill able to do.I reccomend this book to anyone interested in advancedElectromagnetism.Only bad point is the price ,which is too much highexpecially with the weak Euro we have now .On the whole a "top"book:5 stars! ... Read more

Product Description
The book is an introduction to quantum field theory and renormalization group. It shows that these frameworks are essential for the understanding of phenomena belonging to many different areas of physics, which range from phase transitions in macroscopic systems to the theory of fundamental interactions. This advanced new edition is based on graduate courses and summer schools given by the author over a number of years. Although there are several good textbooks on QFT, this is the first to emphasize the common aspects of particle physics and the theory of critical phenomena in a unified framework. The book has been fully updated, with about 50% new material added. Three new chapters have been included: an introduction to non-relativistic quantum statistical physics; a chapter on critical phenomena in non-magnetic systems, polymers, liquid-vapour, and helium superfluid transitions; and a chapter on finite temperature relativistic quantum field theory. The book can be roughly divided into four parts: chapters 1-12 deal with general field theory, functional integrals, and functional methods. In chapters 13-21, renormalization properties of theories with symmetries are studied and specific applications to particle physics are emphasized. Chapters 23-37 are devoted to critical phenomena. Chapters 39-43 describe the role of instantons in quantum mechanics and field theory. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Nice written overview of QFT from a stat mech perspective
This book is a lengthy discussion of quantum field theory from the viewpoint of statistical mechanics. The author does a good job in connecting the theory of quantum fields with critical phenomena instatistical mechanics. Path integration is used throughout (more detaileddiscussion could be useful on how one relates the real time formulation fortime independent Hamiltonians to the Euclidean formulation). It is theEuclidean functional integral that is exploited throughout the book to makethe connections between QFT and statistical mechanics.The author shouldhave discussed the issues with analytical continuation between the realtime and imaginary time formulations. The discussion on instantons was veryilluminating. -LC (Global Mathematics, Inc) ... Read more

Product Description
Introduction to Gauge Field Theory provides comprehensive coverage of modern relativistic quantum field theory, emphasizing the details of actual calculations rather than the phenomenology of the applications.
Forming a foundation in the subject, the book assumes knowledge of relativistic quantum mechanics, but not of quantum field theory. The book is ideal for graduate students, advanced undergraduates, and researchers in the field of particle physics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent, very concise text
This book is a very nice introduction if you already have some notions of QFT. It can happily supplement Lowell Brown's book for instance. Its main characteristics is conciseness, it goes straight to the point, in the minimum expenditure of time and effort, without sacrifying mathematical correctness. Unfortunately some important topics are almost absent from the book, such as Ward identities, or infrared divergences. But the book remains self-contained despite this. ... Read more

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This text aims to provide an introduction to the subject of quantum field theory without the complication of introducing its application areas such as elementary particle physics or statistical physics at the same time.
It explains those features of quantum and statistical field systems that result from their field-theoretic nature and are therefore common to different physical contexts. The reader is supplied with practical tools for carrying out calculations as well as a discussion of the meaning of the results.
An approach emphasizing the simplest models is used, progressing to discussion of real systems before mentioning more general and rigorous conclusions. The book is structured around carefully selected problems, which are solved in detail. The central concept is that of effective action (or free energy in statistical physics), and the main technical tool is the path integral, although other formalisms are also mentioned. A knowledge of particle physics phenomenology is not required. T ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent informal QFT intro
You want to know what is Casimir effect, renormalization and Callan-Symanzic Eqn, effective action and path integral. You take a standard QFT course (say, Weinberg or Peskin) and find yourself overwhelmed with peculiarities of Dirac spinors and Lorentz group representations. You feel you are not going anywhere: you are not learning QFT, really! Maybe you are even not a particle physicist after all. Then this book is for YOU! Authors do a great job explaining the essence of QFT (as an interacting theory with an infinite number degrees of freedom) using the scalar field Lagrangian with the quartic interaction as a prime example. It is amazing how far one actually can go with such a model! Each chapter contains an illustrative calculation of a physical quantity (say, the Casimir energy, Ch. 5), with all the details, and without unnecessary complications. One also learns agreat deal of the path integral techniques (e.g. instantons), which is extremely important in a variety of fields (QCD, condensed matter, statistical physics, etc). Overall, a highly recommended reading.

A great introductory course
I've looked at many books on quantum field theory and this is without doubt the best introductory work I have found. The Weinberg book jumps in at the deep end, the Kaku book jumps in at about 6 feet deep but this one allows you to at least climb into the pool. It's a rare intelligence to be aware of how to lead one's reader along the learning curve and these authors display it. Typo errors occur at the rate of about one every two pages (did anyone read the proofs?) but they are easily discovered if one follows the math carefully. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is based on material taught to final-year physicsundergraduates as part of the theoretical physics option at ImperialCollege. After a self-contained introduction to the essential ideas ofvector spaces and linear operators, a bridge is built between theconcepts and mathematics of classical physics, and the newmathematical framework employed in quantum mechanics. The axioms ofnonrelativistic quantum theory are introduced, and shown to lead to avariety of new conceptual problems. Subjects discussed includestate-vector reduction, the problem of measurement, quantumentanglement, the Kochen-Specker theorem, and the Bellinequalities. The book includes twenty-five problems with workedsolutions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Nice introductory lectures on quantum foundations suitable for self-study
Very fine lectures on the foundations of quantum mechanics but definitely not for beginners. Prof. Isham states: "These lectures was part of a third year theoretical physics option (preface, p. v)", so be prepared. Before tackling this book on your own, I think you should understand something about vector spaces, basic linear functional analysis and Hilbert spaces and also feel comfortable with a fairly high degree of mathematical and logical abstraction.

Prof. Isham's exposition is admirablyclear and he provides a great deal of very helpful discussionof a number of difficult / subtle foundational issues, concepts and theorems central to quantum mechanics.The topics go well beyond what's in introductory or even more advanced textbooks, e.g. in chapter 4, he discusses the classical physics notion of property, which is compared to the quantum mechanical situation; in chapter 5 (General Formalism of Quantum Theory), he states informally and elucidates four rules providing the basic conceptual underpinnings of QM.Rule 3 deals with the central notion of expected result of measuring an operator on a quantum state and then later in section 5.3, hediscusses in detail an alternative form of rule 3 and its implications, all of which I found quite interesting.Chapter 6 discusses a number of key technical topics including density matrices, a subject typically missing from introductory accounts. Chapter 7 includes a nice discussion of uncertainty relations.Chapter 8 (Conceptual Issues in Quantum Theory) and Chapter 9 (Properties in Quantum Physics) is where he really gets into various controversial topics: the meaning of probability, reduction of state vectors, quantum entanglement, the measurement problem, all in ch. 8; followed by the Kochen-Specker theorem, quantum logic and non-locality and Bell's inequalities, all in ch. 9.It is really wonderful to be able to learn how a world-class theoretical physicist like Prof. Isham, who takes conceptual issues seriously unlike many practicing quantum physicists, thinks about these arguably arcane issues.These discussions are introductory and somewhat superficial but nevertheless insightful and well worth one's time.

In summary, if you're interested in the deep and perplexing conceptual issues of quantum mechanicsthen these lectures will provide you with a pedagogically sound, totally reliable introduction by a world-class physicist who is also a gifted writer.

Very Good
This book is for all those who want to understand more about quantum mechanics. It explains in a very intelligent way the essential differences between a classical theory and a quantum mechanical one. Highly recommended. You will not learn from this book on how to solve e.g. scattering problems, this book focuses on understanding the theory rather than applying it. I enjoyed it very much.

Not that easy, but ...
I appreciate the author's approach as much as the other, "five star" reviews.Isham has tackled some very difficult material and consistently gone to the heart of the problems involved with the meaning of quantum theory.He has treated the many different approaches - from pure pragmatism to hidden variables and many worlds - with fairness and due respect for each.My only disagreement with the other reviewers is their assessment of the book's accessibility.The mathematics is heavy on abstractions.As a former graduate student in physics (admittedly long ago), I found it rougher going than I expected and spaced out several of the final subjects such as quantum logic.Nevertheless I came away with a better understanding of the foundations of quantum mechanics, and I have no regrets over buying the book.

Illuminating
In this book Prof. Isham exposes the minimum algebra required for quantum physics, from vector spaces to eigenvalues, Hilbert spaces, density matrices, and equations specific to quantum theory (e. g. entanglement, EPR, Bell, etc.) He does not give unnecessary details but many insights that make the concepts used in algebra more tangible, more understandable, explaining the idea being the various mathematical theories he deals with. of . I read this book for the quantum aspect, but it may have profited me more for the math, for the deeper understanding it gave me of those mathematical concepts. In addition, Isham offers many sound philosophical (yet short, clear and to the point) discussions on the concepts involved, on probabilities, truth, measurement problem, many worlds, non-locality, etc. The book is a masterful treatment combining algebra, physics and philosophy. Add to this some exercises with answers, and here is a book that you don't want to miss, if you already have some basic knowledge of mathematics and quantum physics.

Deep and balanced
If you are an undergraduate physicist or have an equivalent mathematical background this is the best book to understand themathematical structure and the conceprual basis of quantum theory. The presentation is at a level accessible to undergraduates, however there are many side remarks and commentsthat slowly introduce you to understandingdifferent foundational issues (that often cannot be accessed without a larger mathematical background).It is the deepest modern introductory textbook in quantum mechanics that I have read. ... Read more

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One of the best textbooks on QFT
There are numerous textbooks in Quantum Field Theory. Most of them are very accurate and complete in describing the mathematical apparatus of QFT. Unfortunately, very few are the ones which explain the physics aspects of QFT in details. For a beginner (as well as for an "expert") the physics aspects of QFT are usually elusive and hard to understand. Schweber's textbook is unique in a sense that both mathematics and physics features of QFT are lucidly described and explained.

I would strongly recommend to solve the problems from the book; most of them address the "physics feature" of QFT, and the reader will benefit immensely by analyzing these problems .

There are some other very good textbooks; I would single out Walter Thirring - "Principles of Quantum Electrodynamics", Ernest Henley and Walter Thirring - "Elementary Quantum Field Theory", Gunnar Kallen - "Quantum Electrodynamics", James Bjorken and Sidney Drell - "Relativistic Quantum Fields" etc, but, as I see it, only Schweber's and Weinberg's monographies are the complete and complementary (physics & mathematics) description of Quantum Field Theory. ... Read more

Product Description
In The Quantum Theory of Fields Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg combines his exceptional physical insight with his gift for clear exposition to provide a self-contained, comprehensive, and up-to-date introduction to quantum field theory. Volume II gives an up-to-date and self-contained account of the methods of quantum field theory, and how they have led to an understanding of the weak, strong, and electromagnetic interactions of the elementary particles. The presentation of modern mathematical methods is throughout interwoven with accounts of the problems of elementary particle physics and condensed matter physics to which they have been applied. Problems are included at the end of each chapter. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

must have!
As with Weinberg's first volume, this text can be difficult to follow due to dense notation and, at times, a somewhat overly general approach.However, it is well worth the effort.Weinberg provides extraordinary insight, and he offers a unique perspective in his presentation. ... Read more

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This unique book gives a unified presentation of the entire subject of particle physics, starting with a self-contained discussion of quantum field theory and going on with the symmetry and interaction of particles. It expresses the author's personal approach to the subject, and will be useful to beginning students as well as seasoned workers in the field. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The best.
This is the best by all means, matched by Weinberg's "Gravitation and Cosmology" and a few others.

Learn particle physics from a great master!
This is one of the best books I ever read. T.D. Lee, a distinguished Nobel prize winner, wrote this book so that bright chinese students could learn both quantum field theory and particle physics with little more than the book itself. It was a great success. The book is practically self contained, starting from classical point dynamics and going up to quantum chromodynamics, Weinberg-Salam, etc., in a very organized and pedagogical way, which doesn't exclude depth and great originality, even in much treaded soil. Don't think it has been superseded. You won't find such a delightful treatment of field theory and its applications anywhere else. This is my absolute favorite. ... Read more

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Exploring topics from classical and quantum mechanics and field theory, this book is based on lectures presented in the Graduate Summer School at the Regional Geometry Institute in Park City, Utah, in 1991. The chapter by Bryant treats Lie groups and symplectic geometry, examining not only the connection with mechanics but also the application to differential equations and the recent work of the Gromov school. Rabin's discussion of quantum mechanics and field theory is specifically aimed at mathematicians. Alvarez describes the application of supersymmetry to prove the Atiyah-Singer index theorem, touching on ideas that also underlie more complicated applications of supersymmetry. Quinn's account of the topological quantum field theory captures the formal aspects of the path integral and shows how these ideas can influence branches of mathematics which at first glance may not seem connected. Presenting material at a level between that of textbooks and research papers, much of the book would provide excellent material for graduate courses. The book provides an entree into a field that promises to remain exciting and important for years to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Decent survey on "quantum mathematics"
This book has four articles on mathematics in quantum field theory. Some of it is well known and "classical", particularly the article by Bryant on symplectic geometry (however, Bryan does discuss the modernmodern developments by Gromov in the last section). The article by Rabinattempts to do the impossible: try to teach mathematicians the physicsbehind quantum field theory via path integrals. The article by Alvarez onindex theorems summarizes nicely the connections between supersymmetry andindex theory. The last article by Quinn on topological field theory iswritten for the mathematician in mind. It is fascinating mathematics andgives the reader the impression that research in topological field theorywill no doubt continue to grow in importance. Several advances have takenplace since the book was published (1995), so peruse the literature beforebuying it. ... Read more

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Available for the first time in paperback, The Quantum Theory of Fields is a self-contained, comprehensive, and up-to-date introduction to quantum field theory from Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg. The first volume introduces the foundations of quantum field theory, the second volume examines modern applications, and finally, the third volume presents supersymmetry, an area of theoretical physics likely to be at the center of progress in the physics of elementary particles and gravitation. The development is fresh and logical throughout, with each step carefully motivated by what has preceded. The presentation of modern mathematical methods is interwoven with accounts of applications in both elementary particle and condensed matter physics. The three volumes contain much original material, and are enhanced with examples and insights drawn from the author's experience as a leader of elementary particle research. Hb ISBN (1995) Vol.1 0-521-55001-7 Hb ISBN (1996) Vol.2 0-521-55002-5 Hb ISBN (1996) Vols. 1 & 2 Set 0-521-58555-4 Hb ISBN (2000) Vol.3 0-521-66000-9 HB ISBN (2000) Vols. l-3 Set 0-521-78082-9 ... Read more

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Classic
This will certainly be a classic reference book. However, it focuses on the underlying formalism. So it is not going to be overly useful as an education tool, unless you are looking into the fundamentals which support the theory. ... Read more

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This book provides a thorough introduction to the fascinating world of phase transitions as well as many related topics, including random walks, combinatorial problems, quantum field theory and S-matrix. Fundamental concepts of phase transitions, such as order parameters, spontaneous symmetry breaking, scaling transformations, conformal symmetry, and anomalous dimensions, have deeply changed the modern vision of many areas of physics, leading to remarkable developments in statistical mechanics, elementary particle theory, condensed matter physics and string theory. This self-contained book provides an excellent introduction to frontier topics of exactly solved models in statistical mechanics and quantum field theory, renormalization group, conformal models, quantum integrable systems, duality, elastic S-matrix, thermodynamics Bethe ansatz and form factor theory. The clear discussion of physical principles is accompanied by a detailed analysis of several branches of mathematics, distinguished for their elegance and beauty, such as infinite dimensional algebras, conformal mappings, integral equations or modular functions. Besides advanced research themes, the book also covers many basic topics in statistical mechanics, quantum field theory and theoretical physics. Each argument is discussed in great detail, paying attention to an overall coherent understanding of physical phenomena. Mathematical background is provided in supplements at the end of each chapter, when appropriate. The chapters are also followed by problems of different levels of difficulty. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students will find a rich and challenging source for improving their skills and for accomplishing a comprehensive learning of the many facets of the subject. ... Read more

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Including examples and problems throughout and background revision material where appropriate, this book introduces undergraduate students to the basic concepts of electrostatic and magnetostatic fields.It also covers Maxwell's equations, propagation, transmission and radiation, and includes chapters on the Finite Element and Finite Difference method. A CD containing many MathCad examples is included with the book, and a comprehensive solutions set is also available.First Edition published by Brooks/Cole Publishing Co. (1997): 0-534-95504-5 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Broad and moderately deep
This review applies to the first edition.
It contains very broad and moderately deep coverage of the subject.This is probably around a junior-level book -- the reader should have a working knowledge of differential and integral calculus, vector calculus, etc.The introduction is interesting in that it starts with basic measurements: mass, distance, time, charge, etc. -- and quickly and concisely develops the math and physics background needed for the remainder of the book.These first 60 pages can't really prepare the uninitiated (and hence it isn't a beginner's book), but it can serve as a checklist for familiarity with prerequisite areas before delving into the main subject (for example, it may suggest that the Div, Grad, and Curl book might be handy).The same coverage of electromagnetics can be found in many books -- this one just seems a bit more thoughtful and deliberate than many.I purchased this as a used book, and in that form is a very good value. ... Read more

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This volume provides a broad synthesis of conceptual developments of twentieth century field theories, from the general theory of relativity to quantum field theory and gauge theory.The book traces the foundations and evolution of these theories within a historio-critical context. Theoretical physicists and students of theoretical physics will find this a valuable account of the foundational problems of their discipline that will help them understand the internal logic and dynamics of theoretical physics. Itwill also provide professional historians and philosophers of science, particularly philosophers of physics, with a conceptual basis for further historical, cultural and sociological analysis of the theories discussed. Finally, the scientifically qualified general reader will find in this book a deeper analysis of contemporary conceptions of the physical world than can be found in popular accounts of the subject. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Just over my head
On the basis of the publisher's review and those of other readers, I had hoped that I'd be able to follow the path of conceptual developments.True, as advertised, the mathematical rigor was not excessive.Nonetheless, maybe because the author divided the topic into a series of detailed "cuts" at multiple levels, I found myself unable to keep track.If someone replied that the problem was me, not the book, I wouldn't argue.

Thoughtful
Excellent (and virtually mathless, save for a few excurses) in-depth analysis of the way our physical thinking evolved. It covers thoroughly all conceptual signposts of the 20th century physics (stemming from distant past)- aether, space, time, space-time, field, gravitation, inertia, quantum concepts like quantization, anomalies and renormalizability. A gift of a bird's (better, eagle's) view for an undergraduate student (that's what you don't understand because you're busy solving the equations); a penetrating analysis for a patient layman (who can grasp circa 70% of the book). Highly recommended.

A rewarding challenge for the serious layman like myself
Following is a quote from the Preface: "The book is written primarily for students of theoretical physics who are interested in the foundational problems of their discipline and are struggling to grasp the internal logic and dynamics of their subject from a historical perspective. But I have also done my best to make the text accessible to general readers with a basic scientific education who feel that their cultural curiosity concerning the contemporary conception of nature cannot be satisfied by popular writings." I qualify as the "general reader" in the audience he addresses above who, "'cannot be satisfied by popular writings."

If you've been following my collection of physics books which I post at my 'Shared Purchases' and 'Listmania Lists' portion ..., then you can see that I tend to ambitiously bite off more than I can chew in my choice of intellectual reading. As I admitted in my profile, I am a guy with not much more than half a brain and a driving passion to know what the hell is really going on in this Universe. I have been eagerly searching for a book that will challenge me to grow beyond my comfort level of popular yet slightly technical introductory treatments of physics (specifically Quantum Electrodynamics). Well, I FINALLY FOUND IT! This is a special discovery! As I hope you can tell, I am very excited about my latest exposure to Tian Yu Cao's "Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories". Cao's wonderful book serves as a didactic bridge across the gapping void we serious laymen come up against when we've finished pussy-footing around with popular-introductory Quantum Physics books and are driven to explore further than our formal education (or lack thereof) will allow when delving deeper into the daunting world of QM. I'm trying to come up to a level where I can get some appreciation and comprehension of the principles in Quantum Field Theories. For example, I ambitiously procured my own copies of "Inward Bound" by Pais, "The Odd Quantum" by Treiman, Schweber's "QED and the Men Who Made it - Dyson, Feynman, Schwinger, and Tomonaga", and Mehera's, "The Beat of a Different Drummer - the life and science of Richard Feynman". I look at these books and think, "QM looks so beautiful! I want to get a comprehensive grip on this stuff'" Hopeless without University level courses in technical mathematics and physics right? I'm not convinced, I suppose I'll find out sooner or later. As it is, I just keep at it. Day after day, I immerse myself in QM literature with a passion driven by my obsessive curiosity of Nature and what we know of her physical reality. Light, Atoms, Electromagnetic Waves, Matter, Particles, and Fields; these are the things I feel compelled to investigate'

Cao's book is another stepping stone in my self-directed journey of intellectual adventure. The pedagogy of the book is at a relatively safe and sane level for the explorer who is moderately courageous and not afraid to be uncertain about his/her competency in the learning curve. As I said, Cao's book bridges the terrible gap between the easy stuff (i.e. non-technical/popular/introductory/historical level) across the abyss towards the tougher stuff (i.e. technical/rigorously mathematical University level Introduction QFT textbooks). This is a very technical book for someone at my level but I believe that if you are somewhat like me (scary thought!) you can benefit from the book's pages when armed with a serious sense curiosity and a sincere desire to grasp deep & fundamental principles of Quantum Field Theory.

There are some scary looking mathematical formulas but if you're courageous you can breeze over them and let the copious qualitative text speak to your understanding. The only subjects in this book that I don't find of particularly immediate interest to me are his sections on General Relativity as I'm not a Gravity (field) enthusiast yet. I've skimmed over those sections and suspect that I'll be back later to visit it with more interest in the future.

Be sure to carefully read the what the other reviewers have to say about their opinions of this book, look at the book description and 'Table of Contents' link above. I suggest looking at some of the following books as a prerequisite to this book if you are anywhere near my level of intellect: "Strange Beauty" by Johnson, "The Force of Symmetry" by Icke, "The Quantum World" by Polkingthorne, "The Second Creation" by Crease & Mann, "The Quantum Universe" by Hey & Walters, "Why Things Are the Way They Are" by Chandrasekhar, "QED (The Strange Theory of Light and Matter)" by Feynman, "The Great Design (Particles, Fields, and Creation)" by Adair, "Paul Dirac (The Man and His Work)" by Pais, Jacob, Olive & Atiyah, "What Makes Nature Tick?" and also "Thinking About Physics" both by Roger Newton

I hope you will forgive my enthusiasm in this review if I seem overly zealous. I'm just a curious cat. ...

Time to leave high school physics behind
Even discounting the complexity of the mathematics involved, the motivated reader who has read a number of the listed physics references here, may find the transition to modern quantum field theory conceptually difficult. This reference, will greatly aid in the transition. Explanation of how physical actions such as gravity and electromagnetism are transmitted at a distance has provoked intense debates over the centuries. The electromagnetic field and continuous ether of Thomson and Maxwell, provided a cause for actions at a distance. In Einstein's special theory of relativity the ether was removed. In Einstein's general theory of relativity, spacetime is shown to depend on the gravitational fields. Gravitational fields are considered to be a geometrical programme of field theory, and are discussed in the first part of this reference. The middle part of this reference then considers the quantum field programme. The last part of this reference then considers the gauge field programme whereby gauge potentials can explain fundamental interactions. The motivated reader will also find this reference useful for introduction to many concepts omitted in most introductory physics texts. For example, in describing how Maxwell derived his wave equations, the ability to reformulate Newtonian mechanics in terms of a Lagrangian approach is noted.

Cao's volume on 20th Century Quantum Field Theories
If you are not an expert in quantum field theory, or if you are such an expert, you should read this book from cover to cover about a dozen times at least.Cao of Boston University does for quantum theory whatinvestigative reporters do for political or social/behavioral problems.Asa renowned philosopher and quantum physicist, he gives the whole pictureand nothing but the whole picture.It is even doubtful if many theoreticalphysicists know the whole story as it is elaborated by Cao.M. Jammer's1974 volume gave the story of quantum mechanics and its philosophical basisfrom the beginning until 1974, and Cao continues this from 1974 until 1997.The astonishing changes in quantum theory from the mechanistic to thegeometric to the field theory to the gauge field theory to the effectivegauge field theory, as largely inspired by and created by Steven Weinberg(the Nobel Laureate), pass before you in these pages, together with thearguments with other physicists and the experimental and theoreticalproblems, anomalies, and philosophical difficulties.Einstein's fieldtheory is shown to now be incorporated into quantum field theory, and wesee Weinberg's final disgust with the problems that plague quantum fieldtheory (even though he invented effective gauge quantum field theory, thelatest theory) and his abandonment of field theory for string theory. Weinberg may have overstepped his intuition here, since string theory hasdifficult philosophical foundations as Cao points out, and in my opinionstring theory is at most an approximation to reality.But Weinberg wasprobably correct in being fed up with quantum field theory and seeking someother direction, as he usually has been correct about everything else.Theprolific roles of P. Dirac and P. Jordan, often overlooked, are welldocumented by Cao (Dirac seems to be at the Weinberg level of creativityand intuition, although he has gone in so many different directions that heeven arouses the ire of Cao).The collapse of complementarity isthoroughly documented as well by Cao. ... Read more

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An understanding of quantum mechanics is vital to all students of physics, chemistry and electrical engineering, but requires a lot of mathematical concepts, the details of which are given with great clarity in this book. Various concepts have been derived from first principles, so it can also be used for self-study. The chapters on the JWKB approximation, time-independent perturbation theory and effects of magnetic field stand out for their clarity and easy-to-understand mathematics. Two complete chapters on the linear harmonic oscillator provide a very detailed discussion of one of the most fundamental problems in quantum mechanics. Operator algebra is used to show the ease with which one can calculate the harmonic oscillator wave functions and study the evolution of the coherent state. Similarly, three chapters on angular momentum give a detailed account of this important problem. Perhaps the most attractive feature of the book is the excellent balance between theory and applications and the large number of applications in such diverse areas as astrophysics, nuclear physics, atomic and molecular spectroscopy, solid-state physics, and quantum well structures. ... Read more

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The Problem Book in Quantum Field Theory contains about 200 problems with solutions or hints that help students to improve their understanding and develop skills necessary for pursuing the subject. It deals with the Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations, classical field theory, canonical quantization of scalar, Dirac and electromagnetic fields, the processes in the lowest order of perturbation theory, renormalization and regularization. The solutions are presented in a systematic and complete manner. The material covered and the level of exposition make the book appropriate for graduate and undergraduate students in physics, as well as for teachers and researchers.

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The theory of commutative fields is a fundamental area of mathematics, particularly in number theory, algebra, and algebraic geometry. However, few books provide sufficient treatment of this topic. This book is a translation of the 1985 updated edition of Nagata's 1967 book; both editions originally appeared in Japanese. Nagata provides an introduction to commutative fields that is useful to those studying the topic for the first time as well as to those wishing a reference book. The book presents, with as few prerequisites as possible, all of the important and fundamental results on commutative fields. Each chapter ends with exercises, making the book suitable as a textbook for graduate courses or for independent study. ... Read more

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This classic in the field of abstract algebra has been called "the first systematic treatment of finite fields in the mathematical literature." Divided into two sections-"Introduction to the Galois Field Theory" and "Theory of Linear Groups in a Galois Field"-and crammed with examples and theorems, Linear Groups remains relevant more than a century after its publication. Learn about:. definition and properties of finite fields. classification and determination of irreducible quantics. miscellaneous properties of Galois Fields. analytic representation of substitutions on the marks of a Galois Field. the Abelian linear group. the hyperabelian group. the hyperorthogonal and related linear groups. and much more.This historic contribution to the theory of groups is still appreciated by mathematicians today.American mathematician LEONARD EUGENE DICKSON (1874-1954) received the University of Chicago's first doctorate in mathematics, and later taught there for 39 years. His published works include Linear Algebras (1914), History of the Theory of Numbers (1919-23), and Studies in the Theory of Numbers (1930). ... Read more