This textbook gives a comprehensive summary of the gauge theories of the fundamental interactions. The authors stress the intimate connection between the basic experimental facts and the formulation of gauge theories of the strong and electroweak interaction. The concepts and technical tools of quantum field theory are presented. They are used to derive precision results of quantum chromodynamics and the standard model of the electroweak interaction of experiments in elementary particle physics. The book includes the latest experimental results and presents the actual status of the theory.

The gauge theories for the strong and electroweak interaction have become the Standard Model of particle physics. They realize in a consistent way the requirements of quantum theory, special relativity, and symmetry principles. For the first time, we have a consistent theory of the fundamental interac­ tions that allows for precision calculations for many experiments. The Stan­ dard Model has, up to now, successfully passed all experimental tests. This success establishes the importance of gauge theories, despite the fact that gravity is not included and that the Standard Model is most likely an effec­ tive theory resulting from the low-energy limit of a more fundamental theory. The aim of this book is to present the basic ideas and concepts, the tech­ nical tools, and the predictions of the gauge theories for the fundamental constituents of matter and their interactions: Quantum Chromo dynamics for the strong interaction and the Electroweak Standard Model for the uni­ fied electromagnetic and weak interaction.