Calculations of relativistic hydrodynamics are crucial to several areas of current research in the physics of supernovae and stellar collapse. This book provides an overview of the computational framework in which such calculations have been developed, with examples of applications to real physical systems. Beginning with the development of the equations and differencing schemes for special relativistic hydrodynamics, the book stresses the viability of the Euler-Lagrange approach to most astrophysical problems. It details aspects of solving the Einstein equations together with the fluid...

The two volumes that comprise String Theory provide an up-to-date, comprehensive account of string theory. Volume 1 provides a thorough introduction to the bosonic string, based on the Polyakov path integral and conformal field theory. The first four chapters introduce the central ideas of string theory, the tools of conformal field theory, the Polyakov path integral, and the covariant quantization of the string. The book then treats string interactions: the general formalism, and detailed treatments of the tree level and one loop amplitudes. Toroidal compactification and many important...

Volume 2: Superstring Theory and Beyond, begins with an introduction to supersymmetric string theories and goes on to a broad presentation of the important advances of recent years. The book first introduces the type I, type II, and heterotic superstring theories and their interactions. It then goes on to present important recent discoveries about strongly coupled strings, beginning with a detailed treatment of D-branes and their dynamics, and covering string duality, M-theory, and black hole entropy, and discusses many classic results in conformal field theory. The final four chapters are...

This book is a comprehensive and coherent introduction to the role of cosmic strings and other topological defects in the universe. After an introduction to standard cosmological theory and the theory of phase transitions in the early universe, the book then describes, in turn, the properties, formation, and cosmological implications of cosmic strings, monopoles, domain walls and textures. It concludes with a chapter considering the role of topological defects in inflationary universe models. Ample introductory material is included to make the book readily accessible. It will be of interest...

This text introduces the theoretical framework for describing the quark-gluon plasma, an important new state of matter. The first part of the book is a self-contained introduction to relativistic thermal field theory. Topics include the path integral approach, the real and imaginary time formalisms, fermion fields and gauge fields at finite temperature. The author illustrates useful techniques such as the evaluation of frequency sums and the use of cutting rules. The second part of the book is devoted to recent developments, and gives a detailed account of collective excitations (bosonic and...

Volume 2 introduces type I, type II, and heterotic superstring theories and their interactions and presents important discoveries about strongly coupled strings, four-dimensional and other string theories.

A comprehensive and coherent introduction to modern quantum cosmology.

The scalar-tensor theory of gravitation moved into the limelight in recent years due to developments in string theory, M-theory and "brane world" constructions. This book introduces the subject at a level suitable for both graduate students and researchers. It explores scalar fields, placing them in context with a discussion of Brans-Dicke theory, covering the cosmological constant problem, higher dimensional space-time, branes and conformal transformations.

This work provides a unique introduction to the theory of complex angular momenta, based on the methods of field theory. It comprises an English translation of a lecture course given by Vladimir Gribov in 1969. Besides their historical significance, these lectures contain material highly relevant to research today and likely to form the basis for future developments in the subject.

This book introduces the main examples of topological solitons in classical field theories, discusses the forces between solitons, and surveys in detail both static and dynamic multi-soliton solutions. Kinks in one dimension, lumps and vortices in two dimensions, monopoles and Skyrmions in three dimensions, and instantons in four dimensions are all discussed.