A Unified Grand Tour of Theoretical Physics

This text covers the central themes of: space-time geometry and the general relativistic account of gravity; quantum mechanics and quantum-field theory; gauge theories and the fundamental forces of nature; and statistical mechanics and the theory of phase transitions.

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This new edition provides a conducted 'grand tour' of the fundamental theories that shape modern understanding of the physical world. The book covers the central themes of space-time geometry and the general relativistic account of gravity; quantum mechanics and quantum-field theory; gauge theories and the fundamental forces of nature; and statistical mechanics and the theory of phase transitions. The basic structure of each theory is explained in explicit mathematical detail, with emphasis on conceptual understanding rather than on the technical details of specialized applications. Straightforward accounts are given of the standard models of particle physics and cosmology, and some of the more speculative ideas of modern theoretical physics are examined. This book brings together the diverse aspects of physics which are usually treated as independent. This new edition has been expanded and updated. It includes extensive new material in several sections throughout the book, as well as a completely new chapter. Designed to be accessible to final-year undergraduates in physics and mathematics and to provide first-year students with a broad introductory view of theoretical physics, this book should also be of interest to scientists and engineers in other disciplines who need an account of the subject at a level intermediate between semi-popular and technical research.