Quantum Chromodynamics

In this chapter we present some selected topics in the quantum field theory of the strong interaction, Quantum Chromodynamics. After an introduction on the gauge symmetry in Sect. 1, we briefly present the Renormalisation Group Equation in Sect. 2. Afterwards we turn to asymptotic freedom in Sect. 3 and confinement in Sect. 4. Then, after briefly reviewing the QCD colour factors in Sect. 5, we describe the symmetries of the theory in Sect. 6: isospin, chiral and scale symmetries, and the vacuum structure is reviewed with an introduction about instantons. In Sect. 7 the phase diagram is presented. Finally, in Sect. 8 some phenomenological applications of perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics are reviewed: \(e^+e^-\) annihilation, deep inelastic scattering, factorisation, radiation and jets.