Advanced Particle Physics Volume I Particles, Fields, and Quantum Electrodynamics

Helping readers understand the complicated laws of nature, Advanced Particle Physics Volume I: Particles, Fields, and Quantum Electrodynamics explains the calculations, experimental procedures, and measuring methods of particle physics. It also describes modern physics devices, including accelerators, elementary particle detectors, and neutrino telescopes.

The book first introduces the mathematical basis of modern quantum field theory. It presents the most pertinent information on group theory, proves Noether?s theorem, and determines the major motion integrals connected with both space and internal symmetry. The second part on fundamental interactions and their unifications discusses the main theoretical preconditions and experiments that allow for matter structure to be established at the quark-lepton level. In the third part, the author investigates the secondary quantized theories of free fields with spin 0, 1/2, and 1, with particular emphasis on the neutrino field. The final part focuses on quantum electrodynamics, the first successfully operating quantum field theory. Along with different renormalization schemes of quantum field theory, the author covers the calculation methods for polarized and unpolarized particles, with and without inclusion of radiative corrections.

Each part in this volume contains problems to help readers master the calculation techniques and generalize the results obtained. To improve understanding of the computation procedures in quantum field theory, the majority of the calculations have been performed without dropping complex intermediate steps.

MATHEMATICAL PRELUDE: Relativistic Invariance. Three-Dimensional World. The Four-Dimensional Minkowski Space. Lagrangian Formulation of Field Theory. Discrete Symmetry Operations. BIRD’S-EYE VIEW ON MICROWORLD: Fundamental Interactions. Atoms — Nuclei — Nucleons. From Muon to Gluon. Hadron Families. Quark "Atoms". Passing Glance on Theory of Electroweak Interaction. Fundamental Particles of Standard Model. Technical Equipments of Particle Physics. QUANTUM IDYLL — FREE FIELDS: Scalar Field. Particles with Spin 1/2. Massive Vector Field. Electromagnetic Field. QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS: S-Matrix. Transmission of γ-Radiation through Matter. Scattering of Electrons and Positrons. Radiative Corrections. Renormalization Theory. Appendix.

Oleg Boyarkin is a professor of theoretical physics at Belarus State Pedagogical University. Dr. Boyarkin has authored several physics books and was nominated as International Scientist of the Year 2007 by the International Biographical Centre of Cambridge.