Summarizing Introduction to Quantum Field Theory

Question

I found Sean Carroll's "A No Nonsense Introduction to General Relativity" (about page here. pdf here), a 24-page overview of the topic, very helpful for beginning study. It all got me over the hump of learning the meaning of various terms associated with GR, most of which I had heard before without understanding. It also outlined the most important examples.

Is there a similar document for quantum field theory, which presents the main equations, briefly describes the main ideas, and summarizes the most important applications and results so that the reader can feel the lay of the land before studying in depth?

This post imported from StackExchange Physics at 2014-03-24 04:57 (UCT), posted by SE-user Mark Eichenlaub

Comments

possibly related: physics.stackexchange.com/q/1267/2451

This post imported from StackExchange Physics at 2014-03-24 04:57 (UCT), posted by SE-user Qmechanic

Answer 1

Veltman's book Diagrammatica is awesome when it comes to the basics of field theory and what it all means.

Reading through that one is in my opinion getting it right from the horse's mouth. Not heavy on the calculations but more on how the QFT and it's tools all work together to form a coherent picture of the subject.

It's true that it's a 300 page book, but I think you'll find that it's really easy to read. It's not high powered math and honestly I haven't found anything that got to the heart of the matter as quickly or with less math. QFT is a big subject and GR is more standalone. Reading a chapter in that book will run you about 20 min and it doesn't hurt the brain because it's all stuff an undergrad can easily do. The other reviews of QFT I've seen are very technical and extremely dense. Let me know if you find a better shorter alternative: I'd like to read something that succinct myself!

This post imported from StackExchange Physics at 2014-03-24 04:57 (UCT), posted by SE-user unclejamil

Answer 2

Feynman's book QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter is probably your best bet. He spells out what is going on in the equations of quantum electrodynamics in about 120 pages and briefly touches on how these equations generalize in other parts of QFT.

This post imported from StackExchange Physics at 2014-03-24 04:58 (UCT), posted by SE-user ohwilleke

Comments

Does it mean the other sources are "Nonsense Introductions to Quantum Field Theory"?

Answer 3

Gerard 't Hooft's "Quantum Field Theory for Elementary Particles. Is Quantum Field Theory a theory?" (Phys. Rept. 104 nos. 2-4 (1984), 129-142, author's eprint) is a beautifully written review. From the abstract,

What I would like to point out is that renormalizability is just one step in an evolutionary process of quantum field theory. In order to illuminate this point of view I will present a survey of the evolution of quantum field theory into its present form. However we will not follow the historical development, but rather, for my convenience, the lines of logic. As is well known, that is quite something different.

't Hooft also has a longer introduction to the subject:

The conceptual basis of Quantum Field Theory. Gerard 't Hooft. In Philosophy of Physics (J. Butterfield & J. Earman, eds., Elsevier/North-Holland: Amsterdam, 2007). Author's eprint.

This reads more like a textbook geared at readers with fairly solid quantum mechanics and a good understanding of special relativity, and covers a rather wide range of topics, so it is a little more advanced.

This post imported from StackExchange Physics at 2014-03-24 04:58 (UCT), posted by SE-user Newman

Answer 4

A good (which I define as short, conceptual, readable) introduction to QFT is surprisingly difficult to find. Feynman's QED (see another answer) is the best for those who want to understand the core concepts. Kane's Modern Elementary Particle Physics is a good intro for those who want more detail. I see that there's a new edition.