This comprehensive account of relativistic many-body perturbation theory covers both time-dependent and time-independent MBPT, and reviews standard techniques such as S-matrix and Green's functions as well as the new covariant-evolution-operator method.

Describes for the first time relativistic many-body perturbation theory, rigorously based upon field theory Provides a unified account of quantum electrodynamics and many-body perturbation theory Synthesizes the techniques of many-body perturbation theory and quantum field theory

Klappentext

This book gives a comprehensive account of relativistic many-body perturbation theory, based upon field theory. After some introductory chapters about time-independent and time dependent many-body perturbation theory (MBPT), the standard techniques of S-matrix and Green's functions are reviewed. Next, the newly introduced covariant-evolution-operator method is described, which can be used, like the S-matrix method, for calculations in quantum electrodynamics (QED). Unlike the S-matrix method, this has a structure that is similar to that of MBPT and therefore can serve as basis for a unified theory. Such an approach is developed in the final chapters, and its equivalence to the Bethe-Salpeter equation is demonstrated. Possible applications are discussed and numerical illustrations given.

Inhalt

Introduction.- Time-independent formalism.- Time-dependent formalism.- S-matrix.- Green's functions.- Covariant evolution operator and Green's operator.- Numerical illustrations to Part II.- Covariant evolution combined with electron correlation.- The Bethe-Salpeter equation.- Implementation of the MBPT-QED procedure with numerical results.- Analytical treatment of the Bethe-Salpeter equation.- Regularization and renormalization.- Summary and Conclusions.- Notations and definitions.- Second quantization.- Representations of states and operators.- Dirac equation and the momentum representation.- Lagrangian field theory.- Semiclassical theory of radiation.- Covariant theory of Quantum ElectroDynamics.- Feynman diagrams and Feynman amplitude.- Evaluation rules for time-ordered diagrams.- Some integrals.- Unit systems and dimensional analysis.- References.- Index.