1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910734331303321

Autore

Smit Jan <1943->

Titolo

Introduction to quantum fields on a lattice : 'a robust mate' / / Jan Smit [[electronic resource]]

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cambridge : , : Cambridge University Press, , 2023

ISBN

1-009-40270-6

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (xii, 271 pages) : illustrations (black and white), digital, PDF file(s)

Collana

Cambridge lecture notes in physics ; ; 15

Disciplina

530.143

Soggetti

Lattice field theory

Quantum field theory

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Also issued in print: 2023.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Sommario/riassunto

This book provides a concise introduction to quantum fields on a lattice: a precise and non-perturbative definition of quantum field theory obtained by replacing continuous space-time by a discrete set of points on a lattice. The path integral on the lattice is explained in concrete examples using weak and strong coupling expansions. Fundamental concepts such as 'triviality' of Higgs fields and confinement of quarks and gluons into hadrons are described and illustrated with the results of numerical simulations. The book also provides an introduction to chiral symmetry and chiral gauge theory, as well as quantized non-Abelian gauge fields, scaling and universality. Based on the lecture notes of a course given by the author, this book contains many explanatory examples and exercises, and is suitable as a textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses. Originally published in 2002, this title has been reissued as an Open Access publication on Cambridge Core.