Providing a broad review of many techniques and their application to condensed matter systems, this book begins with a review of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, before moving onto real and imaginary time path integrals and the link between Euclidean quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics. A detailed study of the Ising, gauge-Ising and XY models is included. The renormalization group is developed and applied to critical phenomena, Fermi liquid theory and the renormalization of field theories. Next, the book explores bosonization and its applications to one-dimensional fermionic systems and the correlation functions of homogeneous and random-bond Ising models. It concludes with Bohm-Pines and Chern-Simons theories applied to the quantum Hall effect. Introducing the reader to a variety of techniques, it opens up vast areas of condensed matter theory for both graduate students and researchers in theoretical, statistical and condensed matter physics.
Providing a broad review of many techniques and their application to condensed matter systems, this book begins with a review of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, before moving onto real and imaginary time path integrals and the link between Euclidean quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics. A detailed study of the Ising, gauge-Ising and XY models is included. The renormalization group is developed and applied to critical phenomena, Fermi liquid theory and the renormalization of field theories. Next, the book explores bosonization and its applications to one-dimensional fermionic systems and the correlation functions of homogeneous and random-bond Ising models. It concludes with Bohm-Pines and Chern-Simons theories applied to the quantum Hall effect. Introducing the reader to a variety of techniques, it opens up vast areas of condensed matter theory for both graduate students and researchers in theoretical, statistical and condensed matter physics.
Providing a broad review of many techniques and their application to condensed matter systems, this book begins with a review of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, before moving onto real and imaginary time path integrals and the link between Euclidean quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics. A detailed study of the Ising, gauge-Ising and XY models is included. The renormalization group is developed and applied to critical phenomena, Fermi liquid theory and the renormalization of field theories. Next, the book explores bosonization and its applications to one-dimensional fermionic systems and the correlation functions of homogeneous and random-bond Ising models. It concludes with Bohm–Pines and Chern–Simons theories applied to the quantum Hall effect. Introducing the reader to a variety of techniques, it opens up vast areas of condensed matter theory for both graduate students and researchers in theoretical, statistical and condensed matter physics.
This innovative and modular textbook combines classical topics in thermodynamics, statistical mechanics and many-body theory with the latest developments in condensed matter physics research. Written by internationally renowned experts and logically structured to cater for undergraduate and postgraduate students and researchers, it covers the underlying theoretical principles and includes numerous problems and worked examples to put this knowledge into practice. Three main streams provide a framework for the book; beginning with thermodynamics and classical statistical mechanics, including mean field approximation, fluctuations and the renormalization group approach to critical phenomena. The authors then examine quantum statistical mechanics, covering key topics such as normal Fermi and Luttinger liquids, superfluidity and superconductivity. Finally, they explore classical and quantum kinetics, Anderson localization and quantum interference, and disordered Fermi liquids. Unique in providing a bridge between thermodynamics and advanced topics in condensed matter, this textbook is an invaluable resource to all students of physics.
Including topics not traditionally covered in literature, such as (1+1)-dimensional QFT and classical 2D Coulomb gases, this book considers a wide range of models and demonstrates a number of situations to which they can be applied. Beginning with a treatise of nonrelativistic 1D continuum Fermi and Bose quantum gases of identical spinless particles, the book describes the quantum inverse scattering method and the analysis of the related Yang–Baxter equation and integrable quantum Heisenberg models. It also discusses systems within condensed matter physics, the complete solution of the sine-Gordon model and modern trends in the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz. Each chapter concludes with problems and solutions to help consolidate the reader's understanding of the theory and its applications. Basic knowledge of quantum mechanics and equilibrium statistical physics is assumed, making this book suitable for graduate students and researchers in statistical physics, quantum mechanics and mathematical and theoretical physics.
The methods of quantum field theory underpin many conceptual advances in contemporary condensed matter physics and neighbouring fields. This book provides a praxis-oriented and pedagogical introduction to quantum field theory in many-particle physics, emphasizing the application of theory to real physical systems. This third edition is organized into two parts: the first half of the text presents a streamlined introduction, elevating readers to a level where they can engage with contemporary research literature, from the introduction of many-body techniques and functional integration to renormalization group methods, and the second half addresses a range of advanced topics including modern aspects of gauge theory, topological and relativistic quantum matter, and condensed matter physics out of thermal equilibrium. At all stages, the text seeks a balance between methodological aspects of quantum field theory and practical applications. Extended problems with worked solutions provide a bridge between formal theory and a research-oriented approach.
Condensed matter theory is a massive field to which no book or books can do full justice. Every chapter in this book is possible material for a book or books. So it is clearly neither my intention nor within my capabilities to give an overview of the entire subject. Instead I will focus on certain techniques that have served me well over the years and whose strengths and limitations I am familiar with. My presentation is at a level of rigor I am accustomed to and at ease with. In any topic, say the renormalization group (RG) or bosonization, there are treatments that are more rigorous. How I deal with this depends on the topic. For example, in the RG I usually stop at one loop, which suffices to make the point, with exceptions like wave function renormalization where you need a minimum of two loops. For non-relativistic fermions I am not aware of anything new one gets by going to higher loops. I do not see much point in a scheme that is exact to all orders (just like the original problem) if in practice no real gain is made after one loop. In the case of bosonization I work in infinite volume from the beginning and pay scant attention to the behavior at infinity. I show many examples where this is adequate, but point to cases where it is not and suggest references. In any event I think the student should get acquainted with these more rigorous treatments after getting the hang of it from the treatment in this book. I make one exception in the case of the two-dimensional Ising model where I pay considerable attention to boundary conditions, without which one cannot properly understand how symmetry breaking occurs only in the thermodynamic limit. This book has been a few years in the writing and as a result some of the topics may seem old-fashioned; on the other hand, they have stood the test of time. Ideally the chapters should be read in sequence, but if that is not possible, the reader may have to go back to earlier chapters when encountering an unfamiliar notion. I am grateful to the Aspen Center for Physics (funded by NSF Grant 1066293) and the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras for providing the facilities to write parts of this book.
Abstract The methods of coupled quantum field theory, which had great initial success in relativistic elementary particle physics and have subsequently played a major role in the extensive development of non-relativistic quantum many-particle theory and condensed matter physics, are at the core of this book. As an introduction to the subject, this presentation is intended to facilitate delivery of the material in an easily digestible form to students at a relatively early stage of their scientific development, specifically advanced undergraduates (rather than second or third year graduate students), who are mathematically strong physics majors. The mechanism to accomplish this is the early introduction of variational calculus with particle sources and the Schwinger Action Principle, accompanied by Green’s functions, and, in addition, a brief derivation of quantum mechanical ensemble theory introducing statistical thermodynamics. Important achievements of the theory in condensed matter and quantum statistical physics are reviewed in detail to help develop research capability. These include the derivation of coupled field Green’s function equations of motion for a model electron-hole-phonon system, extensive discussions of retarded, thermodynamic and non-equilibrium Green’s functions, and their associated spectral representations and approximation procedures. Phenomenology emerging in these discussions includes quantum plasma dynamic, nonlocal screening, plasmons, polaritons, linear electromagnetic response, excitons, polarons, phonons, magnetic Landau quantization, van der Waals interactions, chemisorption, etc. Considerable attention is also given to low-dimensional and nanostructured systems, including quantum wells, wires, dots and superlattices, as well as materials having exceptional conduction properties such as superconductors, superfluids and graphene.