Finite Quantum Electrodynamics

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-X

   PDF

2. Preliminaries

   • G. Scharf

   Pages 1-20

3. Relativistic Quantum Mechanics

   • G. Scharf

   Pages 21-65

4. Field Quantization

   • G. Scharf

   Pages 66-158

5. Causal Perturbation Theory

   • G. Scharf

   Pages 159-262

6. Properties of the S-Matrix

   • G. Scharf

   Pages 263-334

7. Other Electromagnetic Couplings

   • G. Scharf

   Pages 335-375

8. Epilogue: Non-Abelian Gauge Theories

   • G. Scharf

   Pages 376-379

9. Back Matter

   Pages 381-409

   PDF

In this textbook for graduate students in physics the author carefully analyses the role of causality in Q.E.D. This new approach avoids ultraviolet divergences, so that the detailed calculations of scattering processes and proofs can be carried out in a mathematically rigorous manner. Significant themes such as renormalizability, gauge invariance, unitarity, renormalization group, interacting fields and axial anomalies are discussed. The extension of the methods to non-abelian gauge theories is briefly described.
The book differs considerably from its first edition: Chap. 3 on Causal Perturbation Theory was completely rewritten and Chap. 4 on Properties of the S-Matrix and Chap. 5 on Other Electromagnetic Couplings are new.

• Dirac equation
• Minkowski space
• Renormalization group
• Second quantization
• quantum mechanics
• scattering theory

From the reviews: "In the summary on the back cover the unheard-of statement appears that now the first (mathematically) rigorous textbook on Quantum Electrodynamics was on hand. ... In fact, "Finite Quantum Electrodynamics" does justice to this claim. And, in addition, in a pregnant, lifely form. On 220 pages G. Scharf (Zurich) succeeds in presenting a concise description of QED ... As promised, only finite quantities appear ... In Russia I often feel frustrated that I studied Latin in school and Russian was not offered. Now I have the same feeling after reading Scharf's book. I studied the wrong grammar up to now." #Translated from a review by Thomas Schücker in Physik in unserer Zeit#1

• Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Zürich, Büro 36-K-70, Zürich, Switzerland

  G. Scharf

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