What do you think?
Rate this book
Quantum Theory of Fields Vol I Foundations
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. This is a two-volume work. Volume I introduces the foundations of quantum field theory. The development is fresh and logical throughout, with each step carefully motivated by what has gone before, and emphasizing the reasons why such a theory should describe nature. After a brief historical outline, the book begins anew with the principles about which we are most certain, relativity and quantum mechanics, and the properties of particles that follow from these principles. Quantum field theory emerges from this as a natural consequence. The author presents the classic calculations of quantum electrodynamics in a thoroughly modern way, showing the use of path integrals and dimensional regularization. His account of renormalization theory reflects the changes in our view of quantum field theory since the advent of effective field theories. The book's scope extends beyond quantum electrodynamics to elementary particle physics, and nuclear physics. It contains much original material, and is peppered with examples and insights drawn from the author's experience as a leader of elementary particle research. Problems are included at the end of each chapter. This work will be an invaluable reference for all physicists and mathematicians who use quantum field theory, and it is also appropriate as a textbook for graduate students in this area.
Hardcover
First published May 9, 1995
48 people are currently reading
985 people want to read
About the author
Steven Weinberg
76Ìýbooks576ÌýfollowersSteven Weinberg (1933-2021) was an American theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate in Physics for his contributions with Abdus Salam and Sheldon Glashow to the unification of the weak force and electromagnetic interaction between elementary particles.
He held the Josey Regental Chair in Science at the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a member of the Physics and Astronomy Departments. His research on elementary particles and physical cosmology was honored with numerous prizes and awards, including in 1979 the Nobel Prize in Physics and in 1991 the National Medal of Science. In 2004 he received the Benjamin Franklin Medal of the American Philosophical Society, with a citation that said he was "considered by many to be the preeminent theoretical physicist alive in the world today." He was elected to the US National Academy of Sciences and Britain's Royal Society, as well as to the American Philosophical Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Weinberg's articles on various subjects occasionally appeared in The New York Review of Books and other periodicals. He served as consultant at the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, President of the Philosophical Society of Texas, and member of the Board of Editors of Daedalus magazine, the Council of Scholars of the Library of Congress, the JASON group of defense consultants, and many other boards and committees.
He held the Josey Regental Chair in Science at the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a member of the Physics and Astronomy Departments. His research on elementary particles and physical cosmology was honored with numerous prizes and awards, including in 1979 the Nobel Prize in Physics and in 1991 the National Medal of Science. In 2004 he received the Benjamin Franklin Medal of the American Philosophical Society, with a citation that said he was "considered by many to be the preeminent theoretical physicist alive in the world today." He was elected to the US National Academy of Sciences and Britain's Royal Society, as well as to the American Philosophical Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Weinberg's articles on various subjects occasionally appeared in The New York Review of Books and other periodicals. He served as consultant at the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, President of the Philosophical Society of Texas, and member of the Board of Editors of Daedalus magazine, the Council of Scholars of the Library of Congress, the JASON group of defense consultants, and many other boards and committees.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 10, 2016
Brilliant! How can I review this book? Is it even required? No. Weinberg knows what he is talking about and he knows how to present ideas of theoretical physics. No one can explain quantum field theory better than him.
Apart from the end-of-chapter problems, this book is self explanatory and very comprehensive. So If you are a student then follow this book line by line and don't be panic by too many symbols and horrible (but compact and self explanatory) notations, just be patient.
Weinberg, unlike other authors of quantum field theory textbooks, introduces the concept of quantum fields in chapter 5, and Feynman's diagrams in chapter 6.
According to Steven Weinberg: "When you teach any branch of physics you must motivate the formalism � it isn’t any good just to present the formalism and say that it agrees with experiment � you have to explain to the students why this the way the world is. After all, this is our aim in physics, not just to describe nature, but to explain nature.In the course of teaching quantum field theory, I developed a rationale for it, which very briefly is that it is the only way of satisfying the principles of Lorentz invariance plus quantum mechanics plus one other principle [cluster decomposition]."
Apart from the end-of-chapter problems, this book is self explanatory and very comprehensive. So If you are a student then follow this book line by line and don't be panic by too many symbols and horrible (but compact and self explanatory) notations, just be patient.
Weinberg, unlike other authors of quantum field theory textbooks, introduces the concept of quantum fields in chapter 5, and Feynman's diagrams in chapter 6.
According to Steven Weinberg: "When you teach any branch of physics you must motivate the formalism � it isn’t any good just to present the formalism and say that it agrees with experiment � you have to explain to the students why this the way the world is. After all, this is our aim in physics, not just to describe nature, but to explain nature.In the course of teaching quantum field theory, I developed a rationale for it, which very briefly is that it is the only way of satisfying the principles of Lorentz invariance plus quantum mechanics plus one other principle [cluster decomposition]."
July 12, 2016
violently happy
since i met you
this small town hasn't got room
for my big feelings
violently happy! 'cause i love you
violently happy! but you're not here
violently happy! come calm me down
before i get into trouble
i tip-toe down to the shore
stand by the ocean
make it roar at me : and i roar back
violently happy! 'cause i love you
violently happy! but you're not here
violently happy! overemotional
violently happy! i'll get into trouble
real soon - if you don't get here - BABY
violently happy! 'cause i love you
violently happy! i'm aiming too high
violently happy! it will get me into trouble
violently happy! i'm driving my car
too fast - with ecstatic music on
violently happy! i'm getting too drunk
violently happy! i'm daring people
to jump off roofs with me
only you can calm me down
i'm aiming too high
soothe me
- björk
since i met you
this small town hasn't got room
for my big feelings
violently happy! 'cause i love you
violently happy! but you're not here
violently happy! come calm me down
before i get into trouble
i tip-toe down to the shore
stand by the ocean
make it roar at me : and i roar back
violently happy! 'cause i love you
violently happy! but you're not here
violently happy! overemotional
violently happy! i'll get into trouble
real soon - if you don't get here - BABY
violently happy! 'cause i love you
violently happy! i'm aiming too high
violently happy! it will get me into trouble
violently happy! i'm driving my car
too fast - with ecstatic music on
violently happy! i'm getting too drunk
violently happy! i'm daring people
to jump off roofs with me
only you can calm me down
i'm aiming too high
soothe me
- björk
August 28, 2012
I own this book from a conference but do not posses at the time. But this is a hot book on my list.
March 1, 2015
This is really good...cauze it tell me many new things n the wired thing is that quamtum physics deny All the rules of physics xD
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.