Quantum Theory of Many-Body Systems: Techniques and Applications

Based on a course given at Chalmers Technical University in Goteborg, Sweden, this text is intended for graduate students in physics and related fields. It provides a self-contained treatment of the physics of many-body systems from the point of view of condensed matter. The aim is not to be exhaustive, but to present just enough detail to enable the student to follow the current research literature. Many of the examples are drawn from mesoscopic physics, a rapidly developing field that deals with systems small enough that quantum coherence is maintained throughout their volume, providing an ideal testing ground for many-body theories. Problems at the end of each chapter help to guide learning an to illustrate the applications of the formalism.