Quantum Field Theory and Gravity: Conceptual and Mathematical Advances in the Search for a Unified Framework 2012th Edition

From the reviews:

“The articles present recent research on conceptual and mathematical issues aiming at a unified framework for quantum field theory and general relativity. … In my experience, this is the best single text to use to learn field theory that one can buy today. … for a solid grounding in the fundamentals of field theory there is no better place to start then this.” (Philosophy, Religion and Science Book Reviews, bookinspections.wordpress.com, March, 2014)

One of the most challenging problems of contemporary theoretical physics is the mathematically rigorous construction of a theory which describes gravitation and the other fundamental physical interactions within a common framework. The physical ideas which grew from attempts to develop such a theory require highly advanced mathematical methods and radically new physical concepts.

This book presents different approaches to a rigorous unified description of quantum fields and gravity. It contains a carefully selected cross-section of lively discussions which took place in autumn 2010 at the fifth conference “Quantum field theory and gravity – Conceptual and mathematical advances in the search for a unified framework” in Regensburg, Germany. In the tradition of the other proceedings covering this series of conferences, a special feature of this book is the exposition of a wide variety of approaches, with the intention to facilitate a comparison.

The book is mainly addressed to mathematicians and physicists who are interested in fundamental questions of mathematical physics. It allows the reader to obtain a broad and up-to-date overview of a fascinating active research area.