The physics of quantum fields (Q1972608)

This book is based on a two-semester course on quantum field theory and many-body physics, quite obviously intended for (theoretical) physics students. The main strength of the book lies in the wealth of topics that are covered: discrete systems, relativistic scalar fields, perturbation theory, Feynman rules, loops, unitarity, and analyticity, formal developments, fermions, quantum electrodynamics, electrons in solids, nonrelativistic bosons, finite temperature, path integrals, functional methods, path integral for fermions, lattice field theory, renormalization group, fields and renormalization, large \(N\) expansion, dimensional regularization, spinors, indefinite metric, phonons, all this in 270 pages. In fact, most applications of quantum field theory up to (i.e., not including) gauge theories and the Standard Model of elementary particle physics, are discussed (anomalies are not covered). Indeed, the author's philosophy is that crucial aspects of high-energy physics, such as spontaneous symmetry breaking, are best understood in the setting of condensed matter physics, where one can ``see'' what is going on. This discussion is very concise, mostly consisting of equations and other information a lecturer would actually discuss in a class. The author often manages to convey his deep insight into the subject (to which he has made profound contributions, especially on the condensed matter side), but on the other hand, the author has failed to recognize the necessary distinction between a course and a textbook. There are no references or suggestions for further reading (with the exception of two textbooks cited in the Preface), and the reader will have to turn to a local expert for further information. Also, the discussion of certain delicate topics is sometimes so brief as to be puzzling. For example, the chapters on renormalization reveal both the strength and the weakness of the book. On the credit side, the author treats renormalization both in the context of critical behaviour in statistical mechanics and in the setting of relativistic quantum field theory. However, the connection between the two is merely summarized by saying that in the former one varies the cutoff while keeping the renormalized quantities fixed, whereas in the latter one varies the renormalized quantities keeping the bare theory fixed, and that these approaches are equivalent. How and why is not explained, and the discussion of (ir)relevant operators versus (non)renormalizable interactions in Ch. 17 is downright puzzling. Following his insightful discussion on self-avoiding random walks in relation to (non)renormalizability and triviality in quantum field theory, the reader would have benefited from a well-picked reference. Mathematical physicists will be annoyed by the author's claim that before the work of Kadanoff and Wilson there was no clear notion of what a field theory was outside perturbation theory (p. 201), as if Wightman and Haag have lived in vain. On the whole, this book can be strongly recommended to physics students who have access to other literature, through which they can deepen their insights gained from the book. Mathematicians will not understand the book, unless they have done a physics degree. In that case the book is a good starting point towards non-mathematical aspects of quantum field theory.