Relativistic Quantum Mechanics and Introduction to Quantum Field Theory
Book Description
Reviews:
This book is a well written, concise account of the traditional approach to relativistic quantum theory. Starting from the Dirac equation, the text evolves into field theory in the operator frame- work. The book will mostly appeal to students studying relativistic effects in traditional nuclear physics problems. As a preparation for particle physics theorists the book is a bit too limited and a subsequent immersion in the path integral approach to relativistic quantum theory would likely also be needed.
Herbert Neuberger, Mathematical Reviews
These notes have arisen from a graduate course taught to students interested in particle physics and quantum field theory. It has two parts. In the first part Capri outlines the concepts of discrete and continuous symmetries for relativistic wave equations. He starts out by giving a short account of Wigner’s classifications of the unitary representations of the Poincaré group, followed by chapters on spin-0 and spin-1/2 particles. Here, the 1/r potential is treated in detail. In the second part Capri introduces the students only to the basic ideas of quantum field theory, concentrating on the canonical formalism, the concepts of the S-matrix and the related LSZ asymptotics, and focussing on simple external field models. Pair production and vacuum polarization together with charge renomalization are treated as well.
The short text may serve as an introduction for the beginner who has some knowledge of quantum mechanics.
G. Roepstorff, Zentralblatt für Mathematik und ihre Grenzgebiete