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How to tune into the quantum field?

What books will help me understand quantum field theory?

  • Can anyone recommend a path to getting to a basic understanding of QFT through self study? Is a complete course in Quantum Mechanics a prerequisite? My guess is that there are a lot of details in introductory Quantum Theory courses which are not absolutely essential in order to understand the basics of QFT. I have studied introductory quantum mechanics but I get lost early in books like Lee's QFT. I'm looking for the book to fill the gap. Maybe its a classical field theory book? I suppose Im wondering if you can get to an understanding of the essentials of QFT, WITHOUT having first studied ALL the details of Quantum Mechanics. Thanks!

  • Answer:

    "Quantum Field Theory" by Michio Kaku is a classic, but prerequisite understanding for this book is steep. You have to thoroughly understand the difference between Hamiltonian and Lagrangian formulation of quantum theory. For an introduction to QFT, why not go back to the guy largely responsible for it, which is Richard Feynman? He's authored a number of books which will help you prepare for a study of QFT. For starters, you can check out his tiny book "QED", which stands for Quantum ElectroDynamics, which paves the way for QFT. One thing you're right about, you don't need to know "all" the details of quantum mechanics, because much of it really are applications of the theory, using the Hamiltonian approach (Schrodinger wave equation). As soon as you have a solid background in classical mechanics which covers both Hamiltonian and Lagrangian approaches, and sufficient knowledge of quantum mechanics to understand how QFT is done differently, you should be ready to go.

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what you're asking is like whether you can get to simple harmonic motion without having to learn trigonometry, algebra, and all the other things you had to go through before getting to physics I. Short answer : NO.

clavdivs

There is no way to really understand QFT, also sometimes known as "second quantization," without a thorough understanding of first quantization, no. My personal favorite book on QFT is "Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell" by A. Zee.

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