See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/210269699

Path Integrals in Quantum Mechanics, Statistics and Polymer Physics

Book · January 1995

DOI: 10.1142/1081

CITATIONS READS

764 3,121

1 author:

Hagen Kleinert
Freie Universität Berlin
377 PUBLICATIONS 12,639 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Hagen Kleinert on 10 June 2014.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

PATH INTEGRALS IN QUANTUM
MECHANICS, STATISTICS,
POLYMER PHYSICS, AND New
Textbook
FINANCIAL MARKETS
3rd Edition
by Hagen Kleinert (Freie Universität Berlin, Germany)

“
Kleinert’s book presents the reader with a very complete and very thorough discussion of
path integration ... a new extensive and, again, rather complete chapter has been added
on the use of path integration techniques in the analysis of financial markets. This chapter
would do well in any high-level course on stochastic financial models and is a wonderful
occasion for candidate mathematical and theoretical physicists to realize what great
potential there hides still in the methodologies and techniques that have been developed

papers … this volume is highly recommendable for any student considering majoring in
theoretical physics or chemistry, and an absolute must for any lecturer in this
area … In fact, I don’t know of any excuse not to have your own copy.
“
… It profits from the clarity and conciseness that is also a hallmark of Kleinert’s scientific

Journal of Statistical Physics

T
his is the third, significantly expanded edition of of metastable thermodynamic
the comprehensive textbook published in 1990 phases, and the large-order
on the theory and applications of path integrals. behavior of perturbation
It is the first book to explicitly solve path integrals of a expansions. A new variational
wide variety of nontrivial quantum-mechanical systems, treatment extends the range of
in particular the hydrogen atom. The solutions have validity of previous tunneling theories from large to
become possible by two major advances. The first is a small barriers. A corresponding extension of large-
new euclidean path integral formula which increases the order perturbation theory also applies now to small
restricted range of applicability of Feynman's famous orders.
formula to include singular attractive 1/r and 1/r2 potentials.
Special attention is devoted to path integrals with
The second is a simple quantum equivalence principle
topological restrictions. These are relevant to the
governing the transformation of euclidean path integrals About the Author
understanding of the statistical properties of elementary
to spaces with curvature and torsion, which leads to time-
particles and the entanglement phenomena in polymer Hagen Kleinert is Professor of Physics at the
sliced path integrals that are manifestly invariant under
physics and biophysics. The Chern–Simons theory of Freie Universitat Berlin, Germany. As a visiting
coordinate transformations. scientist, he has spent extended periods of
particles with fractional statistics (anyons) is introduced
time at CERN, the European Organization
In addition to the time-sliced definition, the author gives and applied to explain the fractional quantum Hall
for Nuclear Research in Geneva; at the
a perturbative definition of path integrals which makes effect.
California Institute of Technology in Pasadena;
them invariant under coordinate transformations. A
The relevance of path integrals to financial markets at the Universities of California in Berkeley,
consistent implementation of this property leads to an Santa Barbara, and San Diego; at the Los
is discussed, and improvements of the famous
extension of the theory of generalized functions by defining Alamos National Laboratories in New Mexico;
Black–Scholes formula for option prices are given
uniquely integrals over products of distributions. and at Princeton University, New Jersey. He
which account for the fact that large market fluctuations
has made numerous contributions to our
The powerful Feynman–Kleinert variational approach is occur much more frequently than in the commonly
understanding of particle physics,
explained and developed systematically into a variational used Gaussian distributions. mathematical physics, condensed matter
perturbation theory which, in contrast to ordinary physics, chemical physics, and nuclear physics.
Readership: Students and researchers in theoretical
perturbation theory, produces convergent expansions. His two-volume book Gauge Fields in
physics.
The convergence is uniform from weak to strong couplings, Condensed Matter, published by World
opening a way to precise approximate evaluations of 1300pp (approx) Nov 2003 Scientific, develops a new quantum field-
analytically unsolvable path integrals. 981-238-106-6 US$98 £73 theory of phase transitions on the basis of
disorder fields. Such fields have since become
981-238-107-4(pbk) US$38 £26
Tunneling processes are treated in detail. The results are a powerful tool to investigate the statistical
used to determine the lifetime of supercurrents, the stability properties of fluctuating line-like excitations
in various many-body systems such as
superfluids, superconductors, and crystals.
Inspection copies of all our textbooks are available
World Scientific upon request for textbook adoption.
www.worldscientific.com Please email us at [email protected]
 ORDER FORM
Order Now Through Our Home Page: http://www.worldscientific.com
Please fill in your particulars below. For your convenience, you can order by email, fax, telephone or post from any of the offices below
or send order(s) to your regular book supplier.

• USA World Scientific Publishing Co. Inc.

1060 Main Street, Suite 202, River Edge,NJ 07661, USA Toll-free fax: 1 888 977 2665 Toll-free: 1 800 227 7562 E-mail: [email protected]
• UK World Scientific Publishing (UK) Ltd.
57 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9HE, UK Fax: +44 (0)20 7836 2020 Tel: +44 (0)20 7836 0888 E-mail: [email protected]
• SINGAPORE World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.
Farrer Road, P O Box 128, SINGAPORE 912805 Fax: +65 6467 7667 Tel: +65 6466 5775 E-mail: [email protected]

HOW TO PURCHASE A BOOK

I wish to order copy/copies of

PATH INTEGRALS IN QUANTUM MECHANICS, STATISTICS,

POLYMER PHYSICS, AND FINANCIAL MARKETS (3rd Edition)

981-238-106-6 US$98 £73

981-238-107-4(pbk) US$38 £26

METHODS OF PAYMENT
Cheque/Bank draft enclosed for US$/£
• For cheque payment in USA, please make cheque payable to “World Scientific Publishing Co. Inc.”
• For cheque payment from the rest of the world, please make cheque payable to “World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.”
• For cheque payment in Europe, please make cheque payable to “World Scientific Publishing (UK) Ltd.”

Card No: Exp. Date:

Charge my ❏ VISA ❏ MC ❏ Amex

Bill my company/institution:
(please attach purchase order)

Signature: Tel:

• Special Prices are available to developing countries and some Eastern European countries. Please write in for further details.
• Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery upon publication.
• Prices subject to change without prior notice. Shipping and handling charges will be added.

M Y I NFORMATION
Title & Name:

Organization:

Address: ✆
"RUSH ORDERS"
In U.S.A. and Canada
Call Toll-Free
City/State/Zip: 1 800 227 7562
Country:
Fax Toll-free
1 888 977 2665
E-mail:
In Europe Fax:
+44 (0)20 7836 2020
❏ Please inform me by email on new publications by World Scientific and Imperial College Press. In other countries Fax:
+65 6467 7667
Fields of interest:

www.worldscientific.com www.icpress.co.uk
Printed in Aug 2003 NEW JERSEY • LONDON • SINGAPORE • SHANGHAI • HONG KONG • TAIPEI • BANGALORE SL.SC.08.03.02.ls

View publication stats