Overview

This book gives a comprehensive account of local quantum physics, understood as the synthesis of quantum theory with the principle of locality. Centered on the algebraic approach it describes both the physical concepts and the mathematical structures, and their consequences. These include the emergence of the particle picture, general collision theory covering the cases of massless particles and infraparticles, the analysis of possible charge structures and exchange symmetries, including braid group statistics. Thermal states of an unbounded medium and local equilibrium are discussed in detail. The author takes care both to describe the ideas and to give a critical assessment of future perspectives. The new edition contains numerous improvements and a new chapter concerning formalism and interpretation of quantum theory.

Full Product Details

Author:   Rudolf Haag
Publisher:   Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG
Imprint:   Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. K
Edition:   2nd. rev. and enlarged ed. 1996
Dimensions:   Width: 15.50cm , Height: 2.10cm , Length: 23.50cm
Weight:   1.270kg
ISBN:  

9783540610496

ISBN 10:   3540610499
Pages:   390
Publication Date:   05 August 1996
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Out of print, replaced by POD  
We will order this item for you from a manufatured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

I. Background.- 1. Quantum Mechanics.- 2. The Principle of Locality in Classical Physics and the Relativity Theories.- 3. Poincaré Invariant Quantum Theory.- 4. Action Principle.- 5. Basic Quantum Field Theory.- II. General Quantum Field Theory.- 1. Mathematical Considerations and General Postulates.- 3. Physical Interpretation in Terms of Particles.- 4. General Collision Theory.- 5. Some Consequences of the Postulates.- III. Algebras of Local Observables and Fields.- 1. Review of the Perspective.- 2. Von Neumann Algebras. C*-Algebras. W*-Algebras.- 3. The Net of Algebras of Local Observables.- 4. The Vacuum Sector.- IV. Charges, Global Gauge Groups and Exchange Symmetry.- 1. Charge Superselection Sectors.- 2. The DHR-Analysis.- 3. The Buchholz-Fredenhagen-Analysis.- 4. Global Gauge Group and Charge Carrying Fields.- 5. Low Dimensional Space-Time and Braid Group Statistics.- V. Thermal States and Modular Automorphisms.- 1. Gibbs Ensembles, Thermodynamic Limit, KMS-Condition.- 2. Modular Automorphisms and Modular Conjugation.- 3. Direct Characterization of Equilibrium States.- 4. Modular Automorphisms of Local Algebras.- 5. Phase Space, Nuclearity, Split Property, Local Equilibrium.- 6. The Universal Type of Local Algebras.- VI. Particles. Completeness of the Particle Picture.- 1. Detectors, Coincidence Arrangements, Cross Sections.- 2. The Particle Content.- 3. The Physical State Space of Quantum Electrodynamics.- VII. Principles and Lessons of Quantum Physics. A Review of Interpretations, Mathematical Formalism and Perspectives.- 1. The Copenhagen Spirit. Criticisms, Elaborations.- 2. The Mathematical Formalism.- 3. The Evolutionary Picture.- VIII. Retrospective and Outlook.- 1. Algebraic Approach vs. Euclidean Quantum Field Theory.- 2. Supersymmetry.- 3. TheChallenge from General Relativity.- Author Index and References.

Reviews

Indeed, both the expert in the field and the novice will enjoy Haags insightful exposition... This (superb) book is bound to occupy a place on a par with other classics in the mathematical physics literature. Physics Today ...enjoyable reading to anybody interested in the development of fundamental physical theories. Zentralblatt f. Mathematik

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