Statistical field theory

A statistical field theory is any model in statistical mechanics where the degrees of freedom comprise a field or fields. In other words, the microstates of the system are the different configurations of a field. It is closely related to quantum field theory, which describes the quantum mechanics of fields, and shares with it many phenomena, such as renormalization.

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In fact, by performing a Wick rotation from Minkowski space to Euclidean space, many results of statistical field theory can be applied directly to its quantum equivalent. The correlation functions of a statistical field theory are called Schwinger functions, and their properties are described by the Osterwalder–Schrader axioms.

Statistical field theory is also used to describe systems in polymer physics or biophysics, such as polymer films, nanostructured block copolymers^[1] or polyelectrolytes^[2].

References

Statistical Field Theory volumes I and II (Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics) by Claude Itzykson, Jean-Michel Drouffe, Publisher: Cambridge University Press; (March 29, 1991) ISBN 0-521-40806-7 ISBN 0-521-40805-9
The P(φ)₂ Euclidean (quantum) field theory. by Barry Simon. Princeton Univ Press (June 1974) ISBN 0-691-08144-1
Quantum Physics: A Functional Integral Point of View by James Glimm, Jaffe. Springer; 2nd edition (May 1987) ISBN 0-387-96477-0

^ Baeurle SA, Usami T, Gusev AA (2006). "A new multiscale modeling approach for the prediction of mechanical properties of polymer-based nanomaterials". Polymer 47: 8604-8617. doi:10.1016/j.polymer.2006.10.017.
^ Baeurle SA, Nogovitsin EA (2007). "Challenging scaling laws of flexible polyelectrolyte solutions with effective renormalization concepts". Polymer 48: 4883-4899. doi:10.1016/j.polymer.2007.05.080.