This book contains an edited comprehensive collection of reprints on the subject of the large N limit as applied to a wide spectrum of problems in quantum field theory and statistical mechanics. The topics include (1) Spin Systems; (2) Large N Limit of Gauge Theories; (3) Two-Dimensional QCD; (4) Exact Results on Planar Perturbation Series and the Nature of the 1/N Series; (5) Schwinger-Dyson Equations Approach; (6) QCD Phenomenological Lagrangians and the Large N Limit; (7) Other Approaches to Large N: Eguchi-Kawai Model, Collective Fields and Numerical Methods; (8) Matrix Models; (9) Two-Dimensional Gravity and String Theory.

The 1976 Cargese Summer Institute was devoted to the study of certain exciting developments in quantum field theory and critical phenomena. Its genesis occurred in 1974 as an outgrowth of many scientific discussions amongst the undersigned, who decided to form a scientific committee for the organization of the school. On the one hand, various workers in quantum field theory were continuing to make startling progress in different directions. On the other hand, many new problems were arising from these various domains. Thus we feIt that 1976 might be an appropriate occasion both to review recent developments and to encourage interactions between researchers from different backgrounds working on a common set of unsolved problems. An important aspect of the school, as it took place, was the participation of and stimulating interaction between such a broad spectrum of theorists. The central topics of the school were chosen from the areas of solitons, phase transitions, critical behavior, the renormalization group, gauge fields and the analysis of nonrenormalizable field theories. A noteworthy feature of these topics is the interpene tration of ideas from quantum field theory and statistical mechanics whose inherent unity is seen in the functional integral formulation of quantum field theory. The actual lectures were partly in the form of tutorials designed to familiarize the participants with re cent progress on the main topics of the school. Others were in the form of more specialized seminars reporting on recent research.

- Wherever possible simple examples, which illustrate the main ideas, are provided before embarking on the actual discussion of the problem of interest - The book introduces the readers to problems of great current interest, like instantons, calorons, vortices, magnetic monopoles - QCD at finite temperature is discussed at great length, both in perturbation theory and in Monte Carlo simulations - The book contains many figures showing numerical results of pioneering work

Volume 1 of this revised and updated edition provides an accessible and practical introduction to the first gauge theory included in the Standard Model of particle physics: quantum electrodynamics (QED).The book includes self-contained presentations of electromagnetism as a gauge theory as well as relativistic quantum mechanics. It provides a uniqu

Introduction to Gauge Field Theory provides comprehensive coverage of modern relativistic quantum field theory, emphasizing the details of actual calculations rather than the phenomenology of the applications. Forming a foundation in the subject, the book assumes knowledge of relativistic quantum mechanics, but not of quantum field theory. The book is ideal for graduate students, advanced undergraduates, and researchers in the field of particle physics.