Solitons, Instantons and Twistors - A second lease

 Non-perturbative aspects of Quantum Field Theory have seen a particular revitalization within the wider field of theoretical and mathematical physics. From gravity, quantum cosmology, and dark matter to beyond-standard model physics (studying objects such as QCD axions) and even condensed matter physics. Across all of these different and exciting subfields, the mathematical maturity and level needed to understand these concepts remains almost identical in nature. In particular, an understanding of instantons and solitons and their often topological nature is tantamount to research in these fields. 

Even more so, (particularly from strides made in the amplitudes and celestial holograph communities) twistor theory has become increasingly important as a tool (rather than an interesting aspect of mathematical physics in its own right) to be applied to a variety of calculations. The broader appeal of non-perturbative aspects of Quantum Field Theory has sparked a difficulty in introducing these phenomena in a pedological manner to a large audience of both theoretical (and increasingly experimental) researchers in physical science. 

This text (now updated for its second edition) provides a modern outlook on the nature of these non-perturbative objects, with newly updated chapters to include the latest developments in the field (vortices and the Newtonian limit of twistor theory) discussing a large variety of techniques in that a seldom harder to find outside research papers or in complied in a singular volume.

The great strength of this volume is how self-contained it is in its approach, one seldom needs to look elsewhere before delving headfirst into this volume. In my own work, this text is often my first go-to choice whenever I require reference.A particular strength of the text is its firm modern introduction to integrability, as well as its gentle and instructive introduction to gravitational instantons and twistor theory.

This text is suitable for a graduate-level reader base whose education has at least included a first course in quantum field theory and general relativity. 

Solitons, Instantons, and Twistors

Second Edition 

by Maciej Dunajski 

ISBN: 9780198872542

Price: £45.00


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