The present book is the first of its kind in dealing with topological quantum field theories and their applications to topological aspects of four manifolds. It is not only unique for this reason but also because it contains sufficient introductory material that it can be read by mathematicians and theoretical physicists. On the one hand, it contains a chapter dealing with topological aspects of four manifolds, on the other hand it provides a full introduction to supersymmetry. The book constitutes an essential tool for researchers interested in the basics of topological quantum field theory, since these theories are introduced in detail from a general point of view. In addition, the book describes Donaldson theory and Seiberg-Witten theory, and provides all the details that have led to the connection between these theories using topological quantum field theory. It provides a full account of Wittena (TM)s magic formula relating Donaldson and Seiberg-Witten invariants. Furthermore, the book presents some of the recent developments that have led to important applications in the context of the topology of four manifolds.

Life-defining experiential learning opportunities, especially international ones, do not “just happen”: they are carefully and purposefully designed. Responding to the needs of institutions, businesses, and non-profits, Cross-Cultural Undergraduate Internships provides the critical know-how for designing, measuring, and assessing roles that can kickstart student growth and empowerment. Featuring the Sant’Anna Institute, an Italian educational organization that offers study abroad programs in partnership with American universities, as a core case study, chapters showcase lived experiences to identify the characteristics that make an undergraduate cross-cultural internship useful for the development of both the individual and the organization. Advising on logistical considerations such as renumeration, evaluation, and duration, as well as exploring the broader impact and effectiveness of such programs, the authors propose a toolkit for institutions and organizations to design and evaluate undergraduate internships with a global reach that is in line with new needs in the world of work. A breakthrough text for designing a complete and formative internship experience and for coaching students to consciously engage in intercultural environments, Cross-Cultural Undergraduate Internships provides a roadmap for crafting effective learning experiences that will shape the next generation of scholars, activists, and professionals.

Quantum mechanics is one of the most successful theories in science, and is relevant to nearly all modern topics of scientific research. This textbook moves beyond the introductory and intermediate principles of quantum mechanics frequently covered in undergraduate and graduate courses, presenting in-depth coverage of many more exciting and advanced topics. The author provides a clearly structured text for advanced students, graduates and researchers looking to deepen their knowledge of theoretical quantum mechanics. The book opens with a brief introduction covering key concepts and mathematical tools, followed by a detailed description of the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) method. Two alternative formulations of quantum mechanics are then presented: Wigner's phase space formulation and Feynman's path integral formulation. The text concludes with a chapter examining metastable states and resonances. Step-by-step derivations, worked examples and physical applications are included throughout.

This highly pedagogical textbook for graduate students in particle, theoretical and mathematical physics, explores advanced topics of quantum field theory. Clearly divided into two parts; the first focuses on instantons with a detailed exposition of instantons in quantum mechanics, supersymmetric quantum mechanics, the large order behavior of perturbation theory, and Yang-Mills theories, before moving on to examine the large N expansion in quantum field theory. The organised presentation style, in addition to detailed mathematical derivations, worked examples and applications throughout, enables students to gain practical experience with the tools necessary to start research. The author includes recent developments on the large order behavior of perturbation theory and on large N instantons, and updates existing treatments of classic topics, to ensure that this is a practical and contemporary guide for students developing their understanding of the intricacies of quantum field theory.

The emergence of topological quantum ?eld theory has been one of the most important breakthroughs which have occurred in the context of ma- ematical physics in the last century, a century characterizedbyindependent developments of the main ideas in both disciplines, physics and mathematics, which has concluded with two decades of strong interaction between them, where physics, as in previous centuries, has acted as a source of new mat- matics. Topological quantum ?eld theories constitute the core of these p- nomena, although the main drivingforce behind it has been the enormous e?ort made in theoretical particle physics to understand string theory as a theory able to unify the four fundamental interactions observed in nature. These theories set up a new realm where both disciplines pro't from each other. Although the most striking results have appeared on the mathema- calside, theoreticalphysicshasclearlyalsobene?tted, sincethecorresponding developments have helped better to understand aspects of the fundamentals of ?eld and string theor

Starting in the middle of the 80s, there has been a growing and fruitful interaction between algebraic geometry and certain areas of theoretical high-energy physics, especially the various versions of string theory. Physical heuristics have provided inspiration for new mathematical definitions (such as that of Gromov-Witten invariants) leading in turn to the solution of problems in enumerative geometry. Conversely, the availability of mathematically rigorous definitions and theorems has benefited the physics research by providing the required evidence in fields where experimental testing seems problematic. The aim of this volume, a result of the CIME Summer School held in Cetraro, Italy, in 2005, is to cover part of the most recent and interesting findings in this subject.

In recent years, the old idea that gauge theories and string theories are equivalent has been implemented and developed in various ways, and there are by now various models where the string theory / gauge theory correspondence is at work. One of the most important examples of this correspondence relates Chern-Simons theory, a topological gauge theory in three dimensions which describes knot and three-manifold invariants, to topological string theory, which is deeply related to Gromov-Witten invariants. This has led to some surprising relations between three-manifold geometry and enumerative geometry. This book gives the first coherent presentation of this and other related topics. After an introduction to matrix models and Chern-Simons theory, the book describes in detail the topological string theories that correspond to these gauge theories and develops the mathematical implications of this duality for the enumerative geometry of Calabi-Yau manifolds and knot theory. It is written in a pedagogical style and will be useful reading for graduate students and researchers in both mathematics and physics willing to learn about these developments.

In recent years, the old idea that gauge theories and string theories are equivalent has been implemented and developed in various ways, and there are by now various models where the string theory / gauge theory correspondence is at work. One of the most important examples of this correspondence relates Chern-Simons theory, a topological gauge theory in three dimensions which describes knot and three-manifold invariants, to topological string theory, which is deeply related to Gromov-Witten invariants. This has led to some surprising relations between three-manifold geometry and enumerative geometry. This book gives the first coherent presentation of this and other related topics. After an introduction to matrix models and Chern-Simons theory, the book describes in detail the topological string theories that correspond to these gauge theories and develops the mathematical implications of this duality for the enumerative geometry of Calabi-Yau manifolds and knot theory. It is written in a pedagogical style and will be useful reading for graduate students and researchers in both mathematics and physics willing to learn about these developments.