Gauge Theories in Particle Physics: Volume I: From Relativistic Quantum Mechanics to QED, Third Edition(Graduate Student Series in Physics)

Provides a practical introduction to the three gauge theories of the standard model of particle physics, quantum electrodynamics, quantum chromodynamics and the electroweak theory. For each of them, the authors provide discussion of the main conceptual points, an exposition of many practical calculations of physical qualities and a comparison of these quantitive predictions with experimental results. For this two-volume third edition, much of the book has been rewritten to reflect developments over the last decade, both in the curricula of university courses and in particle physics research. New material has been introduced which is intended for use in undergraduate physics courses. New introductory chapters provide a concise historical account of the properties of quarks and leptons and a qualitative overview of the quantum field description of their actions at a level appropriate to third year courses. The chapter on relativistic quantum mechanics has been enlarged and is supplemented by additional sections on scattering theory and Green functions, in a form appropriate to fourth year courses. Experiments now test the theories beyond lowest order in pertubation theory, an understanding of the data requires a more sophisticated knowledge of quantum field theory, including areas of renormalization. The treatment of quantum field theory has therefore been considerably extended so as to provide a self-contained introduction to quantum field dynamics.

Table of Contents:
INTRODUCTORY SURVEY, ELECTROMAGNETISM AS A GAUGE THEORY, AND RELATIVISTIC QUANTUM MECHANICS Quarks and Leptons Particle Interactions in the Standard Mode Electromagnetism as a Gauge Theory Relativistic Quantum Mechanics INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM FIELD THEORY Quantum Field Theory I Quantum Field Theory II: Interacting Scalar Fields Quantum Field Theory III: Complex Scalar Fields, Dirac and Maxwell Fields Introduction of Electromagnetism TREE-LEVEL APPLICATIONS IN QED Elementary Processes in Scalara and Spinor Electrodynamics Deep Inelastic Electron-Nucleon Scattering and the Quark Parton Model LOOPS AND RENORMALIZATION Higher Order Processes and Renormalisation I: The ABC Theory Loops and Renormalization II: QED Appendix A: Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics Appendix B: Natural Units Appendix C: Maxwell's Equations: Choice of Units Appendix D: Special Relativity: Invariance and Covariance Appendix E: Dirac Function Appendix F: Contour Integration Appendix G: Green Functions Appendix H: Elements of Non-Relativistic Scattering Theory Appendix I: The Schrödinger and Heisenberg Pictures Appendix J: Dirac Algebra and Trace Identities Appendix K: Example of a Cross Section Calculation Appendix L: Feynman Rules for Tree Graphs in QED References Index

Review :
"The third edition volume 1 is a classic. All three editions are worth having. . . There are things which change and develop, as well as the inclusion of new material, as the editions appear. The clarity of exposition and the language of explanation gets even better, as the editions appear. The insights, some added in the later editions, broaden and challenge one's understanding. Above all, the excitement that one gets by being guided through the advanced theoretical concepts by the authors is unique. . . The book focuses much more of its attention on understanding. It is this feature that makes Gauge Theories in Particle Physics' so invaluable." -- Professor John Dainton FRS, University of Liverpool . ." . . the authors have substantially enlarged the text to reflect developments both in university curricula and the field of particle physics." -- CERN COURIER "Reading the book of Aitchison and Hey one can see that the authors have taken a lot of pains to achieve their work to be understandable by undergraduate students. We believe that the authors were successful in this aspect and their book is very suitable into later stages of undergraduate studies of students of theoretical physics with inclination to particle physics. However, it can still be useful also for graduate PhD students and more educated scientists, who would like to be more familiar with some of the presented problems of particle physics."