Recommendations for learning renormalization?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter RobertGC
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Renormalization
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for learning renormalization, particularly in the context of quantum mechanics and quantum field theory (QFT). Participants share various resources and texts that may aid in understanding these concepts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in learning renormalization and seeks introductory resources, specifically after studying quantum mechanics at the level of Griffiths.
  • Another participant asserts that there is no straightforward introduction to renormalization without first understanding QFT.
  • Several participants recommend various texts and resources, including Klauber's "Student Friendly QFT," M. D. Schwartz's "Quantum Field Theory and the Standard Model," and J. C. Collins's "Renormalization."
  • Arnold Neumaier suggests that renormalization can be learned in quantum mechanics as a precursor to its application in QFT, referencing his own paper as a helpful resource.
  • Some participants mention the importance of carefully reading certain chapters in Peskin and Schroder's textbook, noting the presence of typos that could lead to confusion.
  • There are discussions about the accessibility of Neumaier's paper, with concerns raised about broken links and website safety, leading to clarifications about the correct URLs.
  • A participant suggests starting with Halzen and Martin as an introductory text.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need for foundational knowledge in QFT before tackling renormalization, but there are multiple competing views on the best resources and approaches to learning these topics. The discussion remains unresolved regarding which specific texts or methods are most effective.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the complexity of renormalization requires extensive calculations in QFT, and there are mentions of potential issues with certain resources, such as typos in textbooks and broken links to online materials.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students and learners seeking guidance on introductory materials for renormalization and quantum field theory, particularly those with a background in quantum mechanics.

RobertGC
Messages
101
Reaction score
4
TL;DR
Texts for a gentle intro to quantum field theory.
I’ve tried multiple times to learn the methods of renormalization without success. Assume I know quantum mechanics at the level of Griffith’s, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics what’s a good intro to learning renormalization?

Robert Clark
 
Physics news on Phys.org
RobertGC said:
what’s a good intro to learning renormalization?
There isn't one. You can't skip past the beginning of QFT into the middle.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: RobertGC
Ok. What’s a good intro to QFT?

Robert Clark
 
RobertGC said:
Assume I know quantum mechanics at the level of Griffith’s, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics what’s a good intro to learning renormalization?
You can learn renormalization in quantum mechanics as a prelude for its later use in quantum field theory. Most of the mystery of the renormalization process will be gone after having read my paper
But nothing can save you from going through the long calculations accompanying the applications in quantum field theory.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: RobertGC, vanhees71, atyy and 2 others
RobertGC said:
Summary:: Texts for a gentle intro to quantum field theory.

I’ve tried multiple times to learn the methods of renormalization without success. Assume I know quantum mechanics at the level of Griffith’s, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics what’s a good intro to learning renormalization?

Robert Clark
Have you tried Klauber, Student Friendly QFT?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: RobertGC, weirdoguy and vanhees71
My favorite intro text is

M. D. Schwartz, Quantum field theory and the Standard Model, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, New York (2014).

Especially for renormalization there is

J. C. Collins, Renormalization, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, New York, Melbourne (1986).

Here you find my notes on QFT including renormalization using both the dimensional-regularization and the direct BPHZ approach (without intermediate regularization):

https://itp.uni-frankfurt.de/~hees/publ/lect.pdf
 
  • Like
  • Informative
Likes   Reactions: LittleSchwinger, CelHolo, Keith_McClary and 2 others
A. Neumaier said:
You can learn renormalization in quantum mechanics as a prelude for its later use in quantum field theory. Most of the mystery of the renormalization process will be gone after read my paper
But nothing can save you from going through the long calculations accompanying the applications in quantum field theory.

Thanks for the ref.

Robert Clark
 
  • #10
Demystifier said:
Have you tried Klauber, Student Friendly QFT?

Thanks.

Robert Clark
 
  • #11
vanhees71 said:
My favorite intro text is

M. D. Schwartz, Quantum field theory and the Standard Model, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, New York (2014).

Especially for renormalization there is

J. C. Collins, Renormalization, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, New York, Melbourne (1986).

Here you find my notes on QFT including renormalization using both the dimensional-regularization and the direct BPHZ approach (without intermediate regularization):

https://itp.uni-frankfurt.de/~hees/publ/lect.pdf

Thank you.

Robert Clark
 
  • #12
I'd also recommend reading through the first seven chapters of Peskin and Schroder carefully.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: RobertGC
  • #13
vanhees71 said:
J. C. Collins, Renormalization, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, New York, Melbourne (1986).
Peter Weisz's 2009 Les Houches notes are a nice intro to Collins. Although Collins itself is very well written.

https://arxiv.org/abs/1004.3462
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: RobertGC
  • #14
CelHolo said:
I'd also recommend reading through the first seven chapters of Peskin and Schroder carefully.
The emphasis is on "carefully". A textbook, where dimensionful arguments of logarithms occur in the chapter on renormalization, must indeed be read with great care. It's really a pitty that this in principle very good textbook is so full of non-trivial typos :-(.
 
  • Like
  • Wow
Likes   Reactions: RobertGC, Demystifier and CelHolo
  • #15
A. Neumaier said:
You can learn renormalization in quantum mechanics as a prelude for its later use in quantum field theory. Most of the mystery of the renormalization process will be gone after having read my paper
But nothing can save you from going through the long calculations accompanying the applications in quantum field theory.
Hi! This link does not work anymore. Your own website link has a potential threat warning when trying to access the pdf. Could you please reply if it is safe to access your own website?
 
  • #16
Ishika_96_sparkles said:
Hi! This link does not work anymore. Your own website link has a potential threat warning when trying to access the pdf. Could you please reply if it is safe to access your own website?
My website moved. Change in all my old links arnold-neumaier.at to arnold-neumaier.at and you'll find the corresponding files.
 
  • Like
  • Informative
Likes   Reactions: dextercioby, vanhees71 and Ishika_96_sparkles
  • #17
A. Neumaier said:
My website moved. Change in all my old links www.mat.univie.ac.at to arnold-neumaier.at and you'll find the corresponding files.
Thanks a lot Prof. Neumaier!
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: vanhees71
  • #18
Ishika_96_sparkles said:
Could you please reply if it is safe to access your own website?
Actually the change announced first was invalid; see the corrected version.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Ishika_96_sparkles and vanhees71
  • #19
I suggest starting with Halzen and Martin.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: vanhees71

Similar threads

  • · Replies 57 ·
2
Replies
57
Views
7K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
8K