Gauge Fields and Strings

This book focuses on field theory and it covers subjects such as statistical mechanics, quantum field theory and their interrelation, continuous global symmetry, non-Abelian gauge fields, instantons and the quantum theory of loops, and quantum strings and random surfaces. 1. Statistical Mechanics and Quantum Field Theory 2. Asymptotic Freedom and the Renormalization Group 3. The Strong Coupling Expansion 4. Instantons in Abelian Systems 5. Quark Confinement, Superfluidity, Elasticity. Criteria and Analogies 6. Topology of Gauge Fields and Related Problems 7. Analogies Between Gauge and Chiral Fields. Loop Dynamics 8. The Large N Expansion 9. Quantum Strings and Random Surfaces 10. Attempt at a Synthesis