Path Integrals in Physics

Chaichian, M; Demichev, A

"In contrast to many other existing books on functional integral methods, this monograph introduces the path integral in an inductive way by studying the Brownian motion of a particle in a solvent. Indeed the Brownian motion is probably the best example of how to understand and acquire the concept of the path integral in the most natural way … The book will definitely be very helpful for teachers of the subject as a source of ideas on how to present concepts of functional integrals with their applications to their students … the monography can serve as a manual for almost an encyclopedia collection of information from both the physical subject and the bibliography in this field."-Milan Noga"The reader whose interest ranges across quantum, statistical, and stochastic field theories and their application to particle physics and condensed matter physics will find much to enjoy here. The applications are diverse, from the physics of macromolecules to Bose-Einstein condensation to quantization on non-commutative spaces. The explanations are clear, the details present without being overwhelming, and the equations support the text well, without being the impenetrable hedge that detail sometimes provokes … I found reading these books a comfortable and, on occasion, a familiar, experience."-R. Rivers, University of London, UK

• Volume 1: 1 Path Integrals in Classical Theory. Brownian motion: Introduction to the concept of parth integration. Wiener path integrals and stochastic processes. 2 Path integrals in Quantum Mechanics. Feynman path integrals. Path integrals in Hamiltonian formalism. Quantizations, the operator ordering problem and path integrals. Path integrals and quantizations in spaces with topologiecal constraints. Path integrals in curved spaces, space time transformations and the Coulomb problem. Path integrals over anticommuting variables for fermions and generalisations. Appendices. Bibliography. Index.