Schwinger's Quantum Action Principle
From Dirac’s Formulation Through Feynman’s Path Integrals, the Schwinger-Keldysh Method, Quantum Field Theory, to Source Theory
Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Science, Physics, Quantum Theory, General Physics
| Author: | Kimball A. Milton | ISBN: | 9783319201283 |
| Publisher: | Springer International Publishing | Publication: | June 12, 2015 |
| Imprint: | Springer | Language: | English |
| Author: | Kimball A. Milton |
| ISBN: | 9783319201283 |
| Publisher: | Springer International Publishing |
| Publication: | June 12, 2015 |
| Imprint: | Springer |
| Language: | English |
Starting from the earlier notions of stationary action principles, these tutorial notes shows how Schwinger’s Quantum Action Principle descended from Dirac’s formulation, which independently led Feynman to his path-integral formulation of quantum mechanics. Part I brings out in more detail the connection between the two formulations, and applications are discussed. Then, the Keldysh-Schwinger time-cycle method of extracting matrix elements is described. Part II will discuss the variational formulation of quantum electrodynamics and the development of source theory.
Starting from the earlier notions of stationary action principles, these tutorial notes shows how Schwinger’s Quantum Action Principle descended from Dirac’s formulation, which independently led Feynman to his path-integral formulation of quantum mechanics. Part I brings out in more detail the connection between the two formulations, and applications are discussed. Then, the Keldysh-Schwinger time-cycle method of extracting matrix elements is described. Part II will discuss the variational formulation of quantum electrodynamics and the development of source theory.
