Knowledge of the renormalization group and field theory is a key part of physics, and is essential in condensed matter and particle physics. Written for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students, this textbook provides a concise introduction to this subject. The textbook deals directly with the loop expansion of the free energy, also known as the background field method. This is a powerful method, especially when dealing with symmetries, and statistical mechanics. In focussing on free energy, the author avoids long developments on field theory techniques. The necessity of renormalization then follows.

Written for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students, this textbook provides a concise introduction to statistical field theory.

About the Author
Edouard Brezin is Honorary Professor of Physics at the Ecole Polytechnique, and Emeritus Professor at the Ecole Normale Superieure (Paris). A former President of the French Academy of Sciences, he is also a Foreign Member of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Society, and Academia Europaea.

Reviews
'... a concise but clear introduction to this now-classic material. ... a magisterial introduction to the subject ... an excellent example of what such lectures should be: fast-paced, succinct and clear ... an excellent concise treatment of the modern theory of phase transitions and the renormalisation group by an expert in the field.' Contemporary Physics
'... the author deals directly with the loop expansion of the free energy, also known as the background field method. This is a powerful method, especially when dealing with symmetries, and statistical mechanics.' Nenad Manojlovic, Zentralblatt MATH



Book Information
ISBN 9780521193030
Author Edouard Brezin
Format Hardback
Page Count 176
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 500g
Dimensions(mm) 254mm * 179mm * 13mm