Renormalization Methods
A Guide For Beginners
Published on 11. December 2003
Book
Hardback
348 pages
978-0-19-850694-2 (ISBN)
Description
This book is unique in occupying a gap between standard undergraduate texts and more advanced texts on quantum field theory. It covers a range of renormalization methods with a clear physical interpretation (and motivation), including mean-field theories and high-temperature and low-density expansions. It then proceeds by easy steps to the famous epsilon-expansion, ending up with the first-order corrections to critical exponents beyond mean-field theory. Nowadays there is widespread interest in applications of renormalization methods to various topics ranging over soft condensed matter, engineering dynamics, traffic queueing and fluctuations in the stock market. Hence macroscopic systems are also included, with particular emphasis on the archetypal problem of fluid turbulence. The book is also unique in making this material accessible to readers other than theoretical physicists, as it requires only the basic physics and mathematics which should be known to most scientists, engineers and mathematicians.
Reviews / Votes
Renormalization Methods should be an excellent source of material for anyone who plans to lead advanced undergradutes and first-year graduate students beyond the standard course material toward current research topics. I shall certainly keep the book in close reach when preparing for my classes. * Physics Today * I think this book is the best introductory textbook on techniques of renormalization available. It will be a delight to read for anyone who is encountering the topic for the first time and is wishing to exploit the methods to pass an exam or in one's field * Contemporary Physics * this volume does have a fresh aspect to it, perhaps because of the author's background in fluid dynamics and turbulence theory the book should at least find a place on most library reference shelves. * Journal of Physics A: Mathematics and General * All in all, the author succeeds in what he sets out to do, and the somewhat unusual emphasis on fluid flow problems makes this an interesting read. * Theoretical Physics Book Reviews * One can hope that this book will stimulate interest in bringing the theories of nonlinear dissipative systems up to the level of understanding of the familiar and largely solved problems of conservative statistical physics. * The Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 30/09/2004 * Requiring only the basic physics and mathematics known to most scientists and engineers, the material should be accessible to readers other then theoretical physicists. * CERN Courier, 05/08/2004 *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Aimed at final-year undergraduate, postgraduate and research physicists. Also of interest to applied mathematicians, fluid dynamicists, mechanical and chemical engineers, and physical chemists.
Illustrations
numerous figures
Dimensions
Height: 248 mm
Width: 173 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
764 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-850694-2 (9780198506942)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
11/2007
Oxford University Press
€48.20
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
William David McComb is currently Professor of Statistical Physics at the University of Edinburgh. He was Senior Scientific Officer of the Theoretical Physics Division, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell in the years 1969-71.
Content
WHAT IS RENORMALIZATION?; RENORMALIZED PERTURBATION THEORIES (RPT); RENORMALIZATION GROUP; APPENDICES