The Schwinger Action Principle and Effective Action

 

Preface; 1. Action principle in classical mechanics; 2. Action principle in classical field theory; 3. Action principle in quantum theory; 4. The effective action; 5. Quantum statistical mechanics; 6. Effective action at finite temperature; 7. Further applications of the Schwinger action principle; 8. General definition of the effective action; Appendices; References; Index.