Introduction to Strong Interactions: Theory and Applications

This is a problem-oriented introduction to the main ideas, methods, and problems needed to form a basic understanding of the theory of strong interactions. Each section contains solid but concise technical foundations to key concepts of the theory, and the level of rigor is appropriate for readers with a background in physics (rather than mathematics). It begins with a foundational introduction to topics including SU(N) group, hadrons and effective SU(3) symmetric flavor lagrangians, constituent quarks in hadrons, quarks and gluons as fundamental fields. It then discusses Quantum chromodynamics as a gauge field theory, functional integration, and Wilson lines and loops, before moving on to discuss gauge-fixing and Faddeev - Popov ghosts, Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin symmetry, and lattice methods. It concludes with a discussion on the anomalies and the strong CP problem, effective action, chiral perturbation theory, deep inelastic scattering, and derivation and solution of the Dokshitzer - Gribov - Lipatov - Altarelli - Parisi equations.

Constructed as a one-term course on strong interactions for advanced students, it will be a useful self-study guide for graduate and PhD students of high energy physics, Quantum Chromodynamics, and the Standard Model.