Proceedings of the Seventh Physics Summer School, Statistical mechanics and field theory, the Australian National University Canberra, Australia 10-28 January 1994
General principles of statistical mechanics, P.A. Pearce the connection between statistical mechanics and quantum field theory, B.M. McCoy two-dimensional models in statistical mechanics, R.J. Baxter topics in conformal field theory, C. Itzykson quantum gravity as dynamical triangulation, A.A. Migdal lattice gauge theory, C.J. Hamer quantum groups for physicists, M. Gould chaos versus order in Hamiltonian dynamical systems, G.R.W. Quispel quantum and classical integrable systems and statistical mechanics, R.K. Bullough and J.T. Timonen introduction to quantum field theory, R.J. Crewther.
General principles of statistical mechanics, P.A. Pearce the connection between statistical mechanics and quantum field theory, B.M. McCoy two-dimensional models in statistical mechanics, R.J. Baxter topics in conformal field theory, C. Itzykson quantum gravity as dynamical triangulation, A.A. Migdal lattice gauge theory, C.J. Hamer quantum groups for physicists, M. Gould chaos versus order in Hamiltonian dynamical systems, G.R.W. Quispel quantum and classical integrable systems and statistical mechanics, R.K. Bullough and J.T. Timonen introduction to quantum field theory, R.J. Crewther.
A four part series of lectures on the connection of statistical mechanics and quantum field theory. The general principles relating statistical mechanics and the path integral formulation of quantum field theory are presented in the first lecture. These principles are then illustrated in lecture 2 by a presentation of the theory of the Ising model for H=0, where both the homogeneous and randomly inhomogeneous models are treated and the scaling theory and the relation with Fredholm determinants and Painlev{é} equations is presented. In lecture 3 we consider the Ising model with H=0, where the relation with gauge theory is used to discuss the phenomenon of confinement. We conclude in the last lecture with a discussion of quantum spin diffusion in one dimensional chains and a presentation of the chiral Potts model which illustrates the physical effects that can occur when the Euclidean and Minkowski regions are not connected by an analytic continuation. (To be published as part of the Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Theoretical Physics Summer School of the Australian National University which was held in Canberra during Jan. 1994.)
Introductory many-body theory, D.J. Thouless collective description of many-body systems, R.M. Dreizler fermi liquid theory, D. Pines theory of fractional quantum hall effect, A.H. MacDonald numerical methods for problems of interacting many electron systems, D.J. Scalapino supersymmetry in nuclear and condensed matter physics, A.B. Balantekin strongly coupled plasmas, K.I. Golden fractional quantum hall effect and electron solid, R.G. Clark models to treat strong electronic correlations, M.P. Das physics of anyons, R.B. Laughlin. (Part contents).
Volume 1: From Brownian Motion to Renormalization and Lattice Gauge Theory. Volume 2: Strong Coupling, Monte Carlo Methods, Conformal Field Theory, and Random Systems. This two-volume work provides a comprehensive and timely survey of the application of the methods of quantum field theory to statistical physics, a very active and fruitful area of modern research. The first volume provides a pedagogical introduction to the subject, discussing Brownian motion, its anticommutative counterpart in the guise of Onsager's solution to the two-dimensional Ising model, the mean field or Landau approximation, scaling ideas exemplified by the Kosterlitz-Thouless theory for the XY transition, the continuous renormalization group applied to the standard phi-to the fourth theory (the simplest typical case) and lattice gauge theory as a pathway to the understanding of quark confinement in quantum chromodynamics. The second volume covers more diverse topics, including strong coupling expansions and their analysis, Monte Carlo simulations, two-dimensional conformal field theory, and simple disordered systems. The book concludes with a chapter on random geometry and the Polyakov model of random surfaces which illustrates the relations between string theory and statistical physics. The two volumes that make up this work will be useful to theoretical physicists and applied mathematicians who are interested in the exciting developments which have resulted from the synthesis of field theory and statistical physics.
Volume 1: From Brownian Motion to Renormalization and Lattice Gauge Theory. Volume 2: Strong Coupling, Monte Carlo Methods, Conformal Field Theory, and Random Systems. This two-volume work provides a comprehensive and timely survey of the application of the methods of quantum field theory to statistical physics, a very active and fruitful area of modern research. The first volume provides a pedagogical introduction to the subject, discussing Brownian motion, its anticommutative counterpart in the guise of Onsager's solution to the two-dimensional Ising model, the mean field or Landau approximation, scaling ideas exemplified by the Kosterlitz-Thouless theory for the XY transition, the continuous renormalization group applied to the standard phi-to the fourth theory (the simplest typical case) and lattice gauge theory as a pathway to the understanding of quark confinement in quantum chromodynamics. The second volume covers more diverse topics, including strong coupling expansions and their analysis, Monte Carlo simulations, two-dimensional conformal field theory, and simple disordered systems. The book concludes with a chapter on random geometry and the Polyakov model of random surfaces which illustrates the relations between string theory and statistical physics. The two volumes that make up this work will be useful to theoretical physicists and applied mathematicians who are interested in the exciting developments which have resulted from the synthesis of field theory and statistical physics.
Abstract This book provides a thorough introduction to the fascinating world of phase transitions as well as many related topics, including random walks, combinatorial problems, quantum field theory and S-matrix. Fundamental concepts of phase transitions, such as order parameters, spontaneous symmetry breaking, scaling transformations, conformal symmetry, and anomalous dimensions, have deeply changed the modern vision of many areas of physics, leading to remarkable developments in statistical mechanics, elementary particle theory, condensed matter physics and string theory. This self-contained book provides an excellent introduction to frontier topics of exactly solved models in statistical mechanics and quantum field theory, renormalization group, conformal models, quantum integrable systems, duality, elastic S-matrix, thermodynamics Bethe ansatz and form factor theory. The clear discussion of physical principles is accompanied by a detailed analysis of several branches of mathematics, distinguished for their elegance and beauty, such as infinite dimensional algebras, conformal mappings, integral equations or modular functions. Besides advanced research themes, the book also covers many basic topics in statistical mechanics, quantum field theory and theoretical physics. Each argument is discussed in great detail, paying attention to an overall coherent understanding of physical phenomena. Mathematical background is provided in supplements at the end of each chapter, when appropriate. The chapters are also followed by problems of different levels of difficulty. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students will find a rich and challenging source for improving their skills and for accomplishing a comprehensive learning of the many facets of the subject.