Title Probing the Quantum Vacuum : Perturbative Effective Action Approach in Quantum Electrodynamics and its Application Author(s) Dittrich, Walter;Gies, Holger Publication Berlin, Heidelberg, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2000. Description XI, 244 p : online resource Abstract Note This review is devoted to an investigation of the physical properties of the vacuum of quantum electrodynamics, making use of the perturbative-effective action approach. The effect of probing the vacuum with external perturbations is considered, and its response is analyzed after averaging over the high-energy degrees of freedom. The book is written for scientists active in the field as well as for students who want to become familiar with the more advanced computational strategies of external-field problems, some of which are described in detail. Schwinger's proper-time method is the backbone of the book. Many recent results are presented, while others which are widespread in the literature are rederived in a unifying and compact way. The book ranges from the full quantum theory to quantum-induced nonlinear electrodynamics, with a variety of applications to light propagation, photon splitting, and light-by-light scattering. Special emphasis is put on systems at finite temperature ISBN,Price 9783540455851 Keyword(s) 1. EBOOK 2. EBOOK - SPRINGER 3. NUCLEAR PHYSICS 4. Particle and Nuclear Physics 5. QUANTUM PHYSICS Item Type eBook Multi-Media Links Please Click here for eBook Circulation Data Accession#   Call# Status Issued To Return Due On Physical Location I11417     On Shelf