Preface
For many years I have been keeping notes on different topics in
physics—a kind of scientific diary. They contain occasional new results
and mostly derivations of known things, done in a way that seemed nice
to me. The notes were very helpful when I needed to recall some subject.
It is surely best to consult with one’s own self.
This book has arisen from these notes, or better to say, from the part
of them devoted to field theory. I decided to publish it because it seems
that there are some people who may find it useful.
In many cases I discuss things that have never been completely
understood. I do this in the hope that the approach I suggest, although
imperfect, will stimulate deeper penetration into the subject.
I
do not give many references in this book (except for very recent
results). The reason is that although to study the history of physics and
to distribute credits is an interesting enterprise, I am not yet prepared
for it.
The reader can find extra information and references in many review
papers, e.g. J. Kogut and K.G. Wilson, Physics Reports, 12, 75-199
(1974); J. Kogut, Reviews of Modern Physics, 55, 775-836 (1983);
A.A. Migdal, Physics Reports, 102, 199-290 (1983); Patashinsky, Pokrovsky, “Fluctuation Theory of Phase Transitions” Pergamon Press,
Oxford (1979) and “Superstrings” (J. Schwarz ed.). World Scientific
Pub (1985).
Also, below I list (in arbitrary order) some of my favorite papers that
had a profound influence on this book. The choice is, by definition,
subjective and incomplete:
A. M. Polyakov
1. A. Patashinsky and V. Pokrovsky, Zhetph 46, 994 (1964).
2. V. Gribov and A. Migdal, Zhetph 55, 1498 (1968).
3. V. Vaks and A. Larkin, Zhetph 49, 975 (1975).
4. V. Berezinsky, Zhetph 61, 1144 (1971).
5. K. Wilson, Phys, Rev. D 10, 2445 (1974).
6. M. Gell-Mann and F. Low, Phys. Rev. I ll , 582 (1954).
For many years I have been keeping notes on different topics in
physics—a kind of scientific diary. They contain occasional new results
and mostly derivations of known things, done in a way that seemed nice
to me. The notes were very helpful when I needed to recall some subject.
It is surely best to consult with one’s own self.
This book has arisen from these notes, or better to say, from the part
of them devoted to field theory. I decided to publish it because it seems
that there are some people who may find it useful.
In many cases I discuss things that have never been completely
understood. I do this in the hope that the approach I suggest, although
imperfect, will stimulate deeper penetration into the subject.
I
do not give many references in this book (except for very recent
results). The reason is that although to study the history of physics and
to distribute credits is an interesting enterprise, I am not yet prepared
for it.
The reader can find extra information and references in many review
papers, e.g. J. Kogut and K.G. Wilson, Physics Reports, 12, 75-199
(1974); J. Kogut, Reviews of Modern Physics, 55, 775-836 (1983);
A.A. Migdal, Physics Reports, 102, 199-290 (1983); Patashinsky, Pokrovsky, “Fluctuation Theory of Phase Transitions” Pergamon Press,
Oxford (1979) and “Superstrings” (J. Schwarz ed.). World Scientific
Pub (1985).
Also, below I list (in arbitrary order) some of my favorite papers that
had a profound influence on this book. The choice is, by definition,
subjective and incomplete:
A. M. Polyakov
1. A. Patashinsky and V. Pokrovsky, Zhetph 46, 994 (1964).
2. V. Gribov and A. Migdal, Zhetph 55, 1498 (1968).
3. V. Vaks and A. Larkin, Zhetph 49, 975 (1975).
4. V. Berezinsky, Zhetph 61, 1144 (1971).
5. K. Wilson, Phys, Rev. D 10, 2445 (1974).
6. M. Gell-Mann and F. Low, Phys. Rev. I ll , 582 (1954).