Finite temperature field theory

Abstract

These lectures review phases and phase transitions of the Standard Model, with emphasis on those aspects which are amenable to a first principle study. Model calculations and theoretical ideas of practical applicability are discussed as well. Contents: 1.Overview; 2. Field Theory at Finite Temperature and Density; 3.Critical Phenomena; 4.Electroweak Interactions at Finite Temperature; 5. Thermodynamics of Four Fermions models; 6.The Phases of QCD; 7.QCD at Finite Temperature, ${\mu }_B=0$; 8.QCD at Finite Temperature, ${\mu }_B\ne 0$.

34 pages, 11 figures; lectures given at the Summer School on Astroparticle Physics and Cosmology, ICTP, Trieste, 12-30 June 2000 ; Comments and references added