How Energy Considerations Have Shaped Our Fundamental Modern Theories of Physics

At long last, with sufficient technical details, emphasizing key historical moments, a book that develops all of fundamental modern theoretical physics from energy considerations in a compact form. Starting with a few electron-volts of atoms in the quantum world at low energies extending up to quantum gravity and beyond to the birth of the Universe, readers will experience the entire spectrum of fundamental modern theoretical physics, with one theory leading to another in an integrated unified manner. Energy considerations lead to the development of special and general relativity, quantum field theory, renormalization theory, modern quantum electrodynamics, electro-weak theory, the standard model of particle physics, grand unified theories, string theory, the current standard model of inflationary big bang theory, and even to the birth of the Higgs field, and in developments of quantum gravity. Unfortunately, due to strong specialization within theirfields, students and many practicing physicists are exposed only to parts of the beautiful story of modern fundamental physics. Here the entire story is told!

This is a must-read book for graduate students, advanced undergraduate students, instructors and professionals who are interested in all aspects of fundamental modern theoretical physics and key historical moments in its development.

Presents accessible historical overview of how current theories developed Identifies guiding principles for the evolution of physical theories Discusses stimulating reading for all young theoretical physicists

Auteur

Professor Dr. Edouard B. Manoukian is Emeritus Professor of Physics at the Institute for Fundamental Study'' of Naresuan University, and Honorary Fellow of theCenter for Theoretical Physics and Natural Philosophy'', Nakhonsawan Studiorum for Advanced Studies - NAS of Mahidol University, in Thailand. He carried out graduate studies at McGill and University of Toronto obtaining the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees, respectively, in 1968 and 1971. He held research positions at the Theoretical Physics Institute'' of the University of Alberta, theDublin Institute for Advanced Studies'', and the Centre de Recherches Mathématiques Appliquées'' of the University of Montreal, and held Professorships as well at theRoyal Military College of Canada'' of the Department of National Defence of Canada, and at the ``School of Physics'' of Suranaree University of Technology in Thailand. Has authored over 190 refereed papers in most aspects of theoretical physics, as well as of 9 books, several of which are by Springer

Contenu

Chapter 1. The quantum world at Low Energies.- Chapter 2. Higher Energies, Arena of Fundamental Particles, their Classifications and Underlying Symmetries.- Chapter 3. Fields and Dynamical descriptions of Fundamental Particles, the Key Role of Renormalization and its underlying physics.- Chapter 4. High Energies and Switching on Gravity: General Relativity and Great Achievements.- Chapter 5. Quantum Gravity and Difficulties of treatments by Conventional Methods.- Chapter 6. Putting Everything Together to Create the Universe from Scratch and observing it as it ages.