The Physics of Quantum Fields

This book provides a gentle introduction to the physics of quantized f ields and many-body physics. Based on courses taught at the University of Illinois, it concentrates on the basic conceptual issues that many students find difficult, and emphasizes the physical and visualizable aspects of the subject. While the text is intended for students with a wide range of interests, many of the examples are drawn from condens ed matter physics because of the tangible character of such systems.