Introduction to Quantum Effects in Gravity (Hardcover)

Preface; Part I. Canonical Quantization and Particle Production: 1. Overview: a taste of quantum fields; 2. Reminder: Classical and quantum theory; 3. Driven harmonic oscillator; 4. From harmonic oscillators to fields; 5. Reminder: Classical fields; 6. Quantum fields in expanding universe; 7. Quantum fields in the de Sitter universe; 8. Unruh effect; 9. Hawking effect. Thermodynamics of black holes; 10. The Casimir effect; Part II. Path Integrals and Vacuum Polarization: 11. Path integrals; 12. Effective action; 13. Calculation of heat kernel; 14. Results from effective action; Appendices; Index.