An Introduction to Symmetry and Supersymmetry in Quantum Field Theory

An Introduction to Symmetry and Supersymmetry in Quantum Field Theory
Author: Jan T. ?opusza?ski
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 400
Release: 1991
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9789971501617

This is a set of lecture notes given by the author at the Universities of G”ttingen and Wroclaw. The text presents the axiomatic approach to field theory and studies in depth the concepts of symmetry and supersymmetry and their associated generators, currents and charges. It is intended as a one-semester course for graduate students in the field of mathematical physics and high energy physics.

An Introduction to Two-Dimensional Quantum Field Theory with (0,2) Supersymmetry

An Introduction to Two-Dimensional Quantum Field Theory with (0,2) Supersymmetry
Author: Ilarion V. Melnikov
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 490
Release: 2019-02-11
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3030050858

This book introduces two-dimensional supersymmetric field theories with emphasis on both linear and non-linear sigma models. Complex differential geometry, in connection with supersymmetry, has played a key role in most developments of the last thirty years in quantum field theory and string theory. Both structures introduce a great deal of rigidity compared to the more general categories of non-supersymmetric theories and real differential geometry, allowing for many general conceptual results and detailed quantitative predictions. Two-dimensional (0,2) supersymmetric quantum field theories provide a natural arena for the fruitful interplay between geometry and quantum field theory. These theories play an important role in string theory and provide generalizations, still to be explored fully, of rich structures such as mirror symmetry. They also have applications to non-perturbative four-dimensional physics, for instance as descriptions of surface defects or low energy dynamics of solitonic strings in four-dimensional supersymmetric theories. The purpose of these lecture notes is to acquaint the reader with these fascinating theories, assuming a background in conformal theory, quantum field theory and differential geometry at the beginning graduate level. In order to investigate the profound relations between structures from complex geometry and field theory the text begins with a thorough examination of the basic structures of (0,2) quantum field theory and conformal field theory. Next, a simple class of Lagrangian theories, the (0,2) Landau-Ginzburg models, are discussed, together with the resulting renormalization group flows, dynamics, and symmetries. After a thorough introduction and examination of (0,2) non-linear sigma models, the text introduces linear sigma models that, in particular, provide a unified treatment of non-linear sigma models and Landau-Ginzburg theories. Many exercises, along with discussions of relevant mathematical notions and important open problems in the field, are included in the text.

Quantum Field Theory, Supersymmetry, and Enumerative Geometry

Quantum Field Theory, Supersymmetry, and Enumerative Geometry
Author: Daniel S. Freed
Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.
Total Pages: 297
Release: 2006
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 0821834312

This volume presents three weeks of lectures given at the Summer School on Quantum Field Theory, Supersymmetry, and Enumerative Geometry. With this volume, the Park City Mathematics Institute returns to the general topic of the first institute: the interplay between quantum field theory and mathematics.

Quantum Field Theory II

Quantum Field Theory II
Author: Edouard B. Manoukian
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 374
Release: 2016-09-26
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3319338528

This book takes a pedagogical approach to explaining quantum gravity, supersymmetry and string theory in a coherent way. It is aimed at graduate students and researchers in quantum field theory and high-energy physics. The first part of the book introduces quantum gravity, without requiring previous knowledge of general relativity (GR). The necessary geometrical aspects are derived afresh leading to explicit general Lagrangians for gravity, including that of general relativity. The quantum aspect of gravitation, as described by the graviton, is introduced and perturbative quantum GR is discussed. The Schwinger-DeWitt formalism is developed to compute the one-loop contribution to the theory and renormalizability aspects of the perturbative theory are also discussed. This follows by introducing only the very basics of a non-perturbative, background-independent, formulation of quantum gravity, referred to as “loop quantum gravity”, which gives rise to a quantization of space. In the second part the author introduces supersymmetry and its consequences. The generation of superfields is represented in detail. Supersymmetric generalizations of Maxwell’s Theory as well as of Yang-Mills field theory, and of the standard model are worked out. Spontaneous symmetry breaking, improvement of the divergence problem in supersymmetric field theory, and its role in the hierarchy problem are covered. The unification of the fundamental constants in a supersymmetric version of the standard model are then studied. Geometrical aspects necessary to study supergravity are developed culminating in the derivation of its full action. The third part introduces string theory and the analysis of the spectra of the mass (squared) operator associated with the oscillating strings. The properties of the underlying fields, associated with massless particles, encountered in string theory are studied in some detail. Elements of compactification, duality and D-branes are given, as well of the generation of vertices and interactions of strings. In the final sections, the author shows how to recover GR and the Yang-Mills field Theory from string theory.

A Modern Introduction to Quantum Field Theory

A Modern Introduction to Quantum Field Theory
Author: Michele Maggiore
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 308
Release: 2005
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0198520735

The importance and the beauty of modern quantum field theory resides in the power and variety of its methods and ideas, which find application in domains as different as particle physics, cosmology, condensed matter, statistical mechanics and critical phenomena. This book introduces the reader to the modern developments in a manner which assumes no previous knowledge of quantum field theory. Along with standard topics like Feynman diagrams, the book discusses effective lagrangians, renormalization group equations, the path integral formulation, spontaneous symmetry breaking and non-abelian gauge theories. The inclusion of more advanced topics will also make this a most useful book for graduate students and researchers.

Supersymmetric Gauge Field Theory and String Theory

Supersymmetric Gauge Field Theory and String Theory
Author: D. Bailin
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 672
Release: 1994-01-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781420050820

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.

Quantum Non-linear Sigma-Models

Quantum Non-linear Sigma-Models
Author: Sergei V. Ketov
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 429
Release: 2013-03-09
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3662041928

This is the first comprehensive presentation of the quantum non-linear sigma-models. The original papers consider in detail geometrical properties and renormalization of a generic non-linear sigma-model, illustrated by explicit multi-loop calculations in perturbation theory.

The Quantum Theory of Fields

The Quantum Theory of Fields
Author: Steven Weinberg
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 656
Release: 1995-06-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780521550017

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. Volume I introduces the foundations of quantum field theory.

Advanced Topics in Quantum Field Theory

Advanced Topics in Quantum Field Theory
Author: M. Shifman
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 641
Release: 2012-01-19
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1139501887

Since the advent of Yang–Mills theories and supersymmetry in the 1970s, quantum field theory - the basis of the modern description of physical phenomena at the fundamental level - has undergone revolutionary developments. This is the first systematic and comprehensive text devoted specifically to modern field theory, bringing readers to the cutting edge of current research. The book emphasizes nonperturbative phenomena and supersymmetry. It includes a thorough discussion of various phases of gauge theories, extended objects and their quantization, and global supersymmetry from a modern perspective. Featuring extensive cross-referencing from traditional topics to recent breakthroughs in the field, it prepares students for independent research. The side boxes summarizing the main results and over 70 exercises make this an indispensable book for graduate students and researchers in theoretical physics.

Five Lectures on Supersymmetry

Five Lectures on Supersymmetry
Author: Daniel S. Freed
Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.
Total Pages: 132
Release:
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780821871935

The lectures featured in this book treat fundamental concepts necessary for understanding the physics behind these mathematical applications. Freed approaches the topic with the assumption that the basic notions of supersymmetric field theory are unfamiliar to most mathematicians. He presents the material intending to impart a firm grounding in the elementary ideas.