Viatcheslav Mukhanov, Sergei WinitzkiCambridge University Press, 6/14/2007EAN 9780521868341, ISBN10: 0521868343Hardcover, 284 pages, 24.7 x 17.4 x 1.9 cmLanguage: EnglishThis book, first published in 2007, is an introductory textbook on quantum field theory in gravitational backgrounds intended for undergraduate and beginning graduate students in the fields of theoretical astrophysics, cosmology, particle physics, and string theory. The book covers the basic (but essential) material of quantization of fields in an expanding universe and quantum fluctuations in inflationary spacetime. It also contains a detailed explanation of the Casimir, Unruh, and Hawking effects, and introduces the method of effective action used for calculating the back-reaction of quantum systems on a classical external gravitational field. The broad scope of the material covered will provide the reader with a thorough perspective of the subject. Every major result is derived from first principles and thoroughly explained. The book is self-contained and assumes only a basic knowledge of general relativity. Exercises with detailed solutions are provided throughout the book.PrefacePart I. Canonical Quantization and Particle Production1. Overviewa taste of quantum fields2. ReminderClassical and quantum theory3. Driven harmonic oscillator4. From harmonic oscillators to fields5. ReminderClassical fields6. Quantum fields in expanding universe7. Quantum fields in the de Sitter universe8. Unruh effect9. Hawking effect. Thermodynamics of black holes10. The Casimir effectPart II. Path Integrals and Vacuum Polarization11. Path integrals12. Effective action13. Calculation of heat kernel14. Results from effective actionAppendicesIndex.
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