Basics of thermal field theory -- a tutorial on perturbative computations

TL;DR

This tutorial provides an accessible introduction to perturbative thermal field theory, covering fundamental tools and concepts, with applications to heavy ion collisions and cosmology.

Contribution

It offers a self-contained, elementary exposition suitable for beginners, filling a gap in educational resources for thermal field theory.

Findings

Clarifies basic tools for thermal field computations

Includes practical applications in physics

Serves as a comprehensive introductory resource

Abstract

These lecture notes, suitable for a two-semester introductory course or self-study, offer an elementary and self-contained exposition of the basic tools and concepts that are encountered in practical computations in perturbative thermal field theory. Selected applications to heavy ion collision physics and cosmology are outlined in the last chapter.