Finite-Temperature Field Theory: Principles and Applications is a comprehensive textbook that provides a detailed exploration of the theoretical foundations and practical applications of relativistic quantum field theory at high temperatures and densities. The book covers a wide range of topics, including quantum electrodynamics (QED), quantum chromodynamics (QCD), electroweak theory, and effective nuclear field theories. It discusses key concepts such as functional integral representation of the partition function, diagrammatic expansions, linear response theory, screening and plasma oscillations, spontaneous symmetry breaking, and the Goldstone theorem. The text also addresses advanced topics like resummation and hard thermal loops, lattice gauge theory, phase transitions, nucleation theory, quark-gluon plasma, and color superconductivity. Applications to astrophysics and cosmology are explored, including white dwarf and neutron stars, neutrino emissivity, baryon number violation in the early universe, and cosmological phase transitions. The book also includes applications to relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions. The authors, Joseph I. Kapusta and Charles Gale, are both respected physicists with extensive research experience in the field. The book is structured into chapters that cover the fundamental principles of quantum statistical mechanics, functional integral representation of the partition function, interactions and diagrammatic techniques, renormalization, quantum electrodynamics, linear response theory, spontaneous symmetry breaking and restoration, quantum chromodynamics, resummation and hard thermal loops, lattice gauge theory, dense nuclear matter, hot hadronic matter, nucleation theory, heavy ion collisions, weak interactions, and astrophysics and cosmology. Each chapter includes exercises, references, and a bibliography. The book is intended for graduate students and researchers in theoretical physics, providing a thorough understanding of the subject matter and its applications.Finite-Temperature Field Theory: Principles and Applications is a comprehensive textbook that provides a detailed exploration of the theoretical foundations and practical applications of relativistic quantum field theory at high temperatures and densities. The book covers a wide range of topics, including quantum electrodynamics (QED), quantum chromodynamics (QCD), electroweak theory, and effective nuclear field theories. It discusses key concepts such as functional integral representation of the partition function, diagrammatic expansions, linear response theory, screening and plasma oscillations, spontaneous symmetry breaking, and the Goldstone theorem. The text also addresses advanced topics like resummation and hard thermal loops, lattice gauge theory, phase transitions, nucleation theory, quark-gluon plasma, and color superconductivity. Applications to astrophysics and cosmology are explored, including white dwarf and neutron stars, neutrino emissivity, baryon number violation in the early universe, and cosmological phase transitions. The book also includes applications to relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions. The authors, Joseph I. Kapusta and Charles Gale, are both respected physicists with extensive research experience in the field. The book is structured into chapters that cover the fundamental principles of quantum statistical mechanics, functional integral representation of the partition function, interactions and diagrammatic techniques, renormalization, quantum electrodynamics, linear response theory, spontaneous symmetry breaking and restoration, quantum chromodynamics, resummation and hard thermal loops, lattice gauge theory, dense nuclear matter, hot hadronic matter, nucleation theory, heavy ion collisions, weak interactions, and astrophysics and cosmology. Each chapter includes exercises, references, and a bibliography. The book is intended for graduate students and researchers in theoretical physics, providing a thorough understanding of the subject matter and its applications.