Publisher's Synopsis
75 years past the discovery of the pion, this particle still fascinates researchers. This book, written at a level of a graduate text by experts, reviews the progress in theoretical and experimental research of the properties of the pion and describes how its studies help scientists to understand non-perturbative regime of Quantum Chromodynamics, the theory of strong interactions. We describe the current issues in precision analyses of production and decays of the pions and their low energy interactions with other strongly interacting particles, such as kaons and nucleons. We also discuss how precision analyses of transitions involving pions help us understand other interactions and even probe physics beyond the Standard Model. The book is aimed at advanced graduate students and researchers in theoretical and experimental particle and nuclear physics. It can be used as a teaching supplement to special topics courses at universities as well as for researchers from other fields of physics who are interested in the latest developments in low-energy particle and nuclear physics. Professional particle and nuclear physicists at various universities and laboratories will certainly find it useful. This book can also be used as a teaching supplement by the instructors of advanced physics courses for students.
