Ulrich Mosel - Böcker

This short and concise textbook is intended as a primer on path integral formalism both in classical and quantum field theories, although emphasis is on the latter. It is ideally suited as an intensive one-semester course, delivering the basics needed by readers to follow developments in field theory. Path Integrals in Field Theory paves the way for both more rigorous studies in fundamental mathematical issues as well as for applications in hadron, particle and nuclear physics, thus addressing students in mathematical and theoretical physics alike. Assuming some background in relativistic quantum mechanics, it complements the author�s monograph Fields, Symmetries, and Quarks (Springer, 1999).

This textbook covers elements of quantum field theory, symmetry principles, gauge field theories and phenomenological descriptions of hadrons, with special emphasis on topics relevant to hadron and nuclear physics. Written at an introductory level, it is aimed at nuclear physicists in general and experimentalists in particular who need a working knowledge of field theory, symmetry principles of elementary particles and their interactions and the quark structure of hadrons. It will also be of benefit to graduate students who need an understanding of the basics of these topics for their work in other fields.