Low Energy Pion Physics

In these notes we present an introductory review on various topics about low energy pion physics (some kaon physics is discussed as well). Among these, we include the uses of analyticity and unitarity to describe partial wave amplitudes (for which we give accurate and economical parametrizations) and form factors; (forward) dispersion relations; and the use of the Froissart--Gribov representation to evaluate accurately the low energy parameters (scattering lengths and effective ranges) for higher ($l\geq1$) waves. Finally, we describe some pion physics in QCD and then pass on to study the nonlinear sigma model, and the chiral perturbation theory approach to low energy pion interactions.\hb \indent Most of the results presented here are well known, but we also give a set of state of the art, precise determinations of some scattering lengths as well as an independent calculation of three of the parameters $\bar{l}_2$, $\bar{l}_4$, $\bar{l}_6$ (to one loop), and one $\bar{f}_2$, to two loops, that appear in chiral perturbation theory. The S waves are discussed and compared with chiral perturbation theory expectations, and the same is done for larger $l$ scattering lengths and effective range parameters. Also new is the evaluation of some electromagnetic corrections.