Quantum Chromodynamics on the Lattice (Lecture Notes in Physics, 788) - Hardcover

Gattringer

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3642018491 ISBN 13: 9783642018497

Publisher: Springer, 2009

Synopsis

Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) is the fundamental quantum ?eld theory of quarks and gluons. In order to discuss it in a mathematically well-de?ned way, the theory has to be regularized. Replacing space–time by a Euclidean lattice has proven to be an e?cient approach which allows for both theor- ical understanding and computational analysis. Lattice QCD has become a standard tool in elementary particle physics. Asthetitlealreadysays:thisbookisintroductory!Thetextisintendedfor newcomerstothe?eld,servingasastartingpoint.Wesimplywantedtohavea bookwhichwecanputintothehandsofanadvancedstudentfora?rstreading on lattice QCD. This imaginary student brings as a prerequisite knowledge of higher quantum mechanics, some continuum quantum ?eld theory, and basic facts of elementary particle physics phenomenology. In view of the wealth of applications in current research the topics p- sented here are limited and we had to make some painful choices. We discuss QCD but omit most other lattice ?eld theory applications like scalar th- ries, gauge–Higgs models, or electroweak theory. Although we try to lead the reader up to present day understanding, we cannot possibly address all on- ing activities, in particular concerning the role of QCD in electroweak theory. Subjects like glueballs, topological excitations, and approaches like chiral p- turbation theory are mentioned only brie?y. This allows us to cover the other topics quite explicitly, including detailed derivations of key equations. The ?eld is rapidly developing. The proceedings of the annual lattice conferences provide information on newer directions and up-to-date results.

About this title

From the Back Cover

The lattice formulation is at present the most successful approach to Quantum Chromodynamics - the theory of quarks and gluons. This book is intended for newcomers to the field and presents a clear and easy-to-follow path from the first principles all the way to actual calculations. It focusses on QCD and discusses mainly SU(3) lattice gauge theory, both with and without fermions. Numerical calculations in lattice field theory have now become the most effective approach for obtaining quantitative results, and thus three chapters include sections describing numerical techniques, as used in pure gauge theory, in quenched spectroscopy and in treating dynamical fermions.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3642018491
• ISBN 13: 9783642018497
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 360