Where Can I Continue Learning QFT on My Own?

[marlon]

From the top of my head, I think many of these questions get a BETTER intuitive answer (true, some technical stuff is hidden) in Zee than in most more calculationally oriented publications.
True, Zee doesn't justify his stuff, and you are probably not up and running to calculate much stuff yourself. But I think nevertheless that it is a great primer.

cheers,
Patrick.

Ofcourse this is my whole point. And you know, nobody reads a primer in 1 1/2 days, right ?

marlon

 

[Haelfix]

"i don't think you read it carefully. he explains this concept along with the mattress model in the very first chapters..."

I just opened the book up, and I still think I'm right. He gets the path integral more or less midway from page 10, and derives it for a single particle by the top of page 12. Thats a super fast derivation, I mean come on. By contrast P & S take about 10 pages, only get about half as far as Zee, and only introduce it in chapter 9.

Its perfectly clear in a sense, but it also seems a bit miraculous on first inspection. One is probably still remembering quantum mechanics I, and how that fits in. He also has a rather bizarre substitution table to pass from QM to QFT. I think if I read that book the first time around I would be asking questions like why does that work, why is it unique, is it even consistent etc?

Chern Simmons is done in less than half a page!

 

[baka]

Ugh, A bit loss in the discussion ^^
But bassically everyone agree that Zee is the best place to start with right?

Cheers

 

[dextercioby]

Nope.As i said above,P & S is more oriented towards a textbook.Zee is worthwhile reading,nonetheless.

I've been taught in school following Bailin & Love.If i were to choose between the 2,i'd go for P & S.

Daniel.