Physics 616

Quantum Field Theory I

Fall 2017

Annotated Bibliography


You may well find the following references helpful. A broad spectrum of books exists I have attempted to sort them by topic and level of exposition. The Science Library should have many of them; if you cannot find a book, please let me know --- I may be able to lend you my copy.

Course Textbooks

Required textbooks:
*M.E. Peskin and D.V. Schroeder, An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory (1995).
Supplemental information and errata can be found here and here .

Recommended textbooks:
*A. Zee, Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell, Second Edition (2010).
Supplemental information and errata can be found here .



Online Resources

Notes from Sidney Coleman's Physics 253a (Harvard University) can be found here . Follow the link for a video version as well.

Elementary Textbooks

S. Tomonaga, The Story of Spin.
Largely qualitative lectures on how spin ``spins,'' detailing the historical development of the notion of spin in quantum mechanics. Tomonaga shared the 1965 Nobel prize in physics w/ Feynman and Schwinger for his contributions to quantum electrodynamics.

Introductory Texts

Specialized Applications (incl. Atomic Physics)
A. Migdal, Qualitative Methods in Quantum Theory.

Books on Quantum Field Theory

*L. H. Ryder, Quantum Field Theory.
Famed for its readability.

C. Itzykson and J.-B. Zuber, Quantum Field Theory.
A classic, available in an inexpensive, int'l student edition.

S. Coleman, Aspects of Symmetry.

S. Weinberg, The Quantum Theory of Fields.

Books on the Standard Model

* F. Halzen and A.D. Martin, Quarks and Leptons: An Introductory Course in Modern Particle Physics (J. Wiley, 1984).

J.F. Donoghue, E. Golowich, and B.R. Holstein, Dynamics of the Standard Model (Cambridge, 1994).

C. Quigg, Gauge Theories of the Strong, Weak, and Electromagnetic Interactions (Addison-Wesley, 1997).

* P. Ramond, Journeys Beyond the Standard Model (Perseus, 1999).

* E. Leader and E. Predazzi, An Introduction to Gauge Theories and Modern Particle Physics, v. 1 and 2 (Cambridge, 1996).
A very clear, comprehensive treatment of many of the topics of interest to us --- and more!

*[M] T.-P. Cheng and L.-F. Li, Gauge Theory of Elementary Particle Physics.
More sophisticated than Leader and Predazzi. For our purposes, admirable for its concise introduction to group theory. Useful for its discussion of current algebra and chiral symmetry.

Books on Quantum Electrodynamics

*R.P. Feynman, Quantum Electrodynamics.
Lectures and selected reprints on quantum electrodynamics.

*J. Schwinger, ed., Selected Papers on Quantum Electrodynamics.
Selected papers on quantum electrodynamics.

Books on Quantum Chromodynamics

* T. Muta, Foundations of Quantum Chromodynamics.
A nice treatment of the formal aspects of QCD.

F. J. Yndurain, The Theory of Quark and Gluon Interactions.
A comprehensive treatment of QCD, including lattice methods and hadron models.

R.P. Feynman, Photon-Hadron Interactions.
Feynman's "naive" parton model from RPF's own viewpoint. In response to the "naive," RPF was supposed to have laughed and said, "At least I got it right up to logarithms."

[N] M. Creutz, Quarks, Gluons, and Lattices.

I. Montvay and G. Muenster, Quantum Fields on a Lattice.

E. Shuryak, The QCD Vacuum, Hadrons, and the Superdense Matter.

Books on the Weak Interaction

[N] E.D. Commins and P.H. Bucksbaum, Weak Interactions of Leptons and Quarks.

Books on Critical Phenomena and Statistical Field Theory

A. A. Abrikosov, L. P. Gorkov, and I. E. Dzyaloshinski, Methods of Quantum Field Theory in Statistical Physics.
A classic available as a Dover book.

D. J. Amit, Field Theory, the Renormalization Group, and Critical Phenomena.

C. Itzykson and J.-M. Drouffe, Statistical field theory.

S.-K. Ma, Modern Theory of Critical Phenomena.

G. Parisi, Statistical Field Theory.

E. Stanley, Introduction to Phase Transitions and Critical Phenomena.

Last updated: August 28, 2017.