Khomskii D.I. Basic Aspects of the Quantum Theory of Solids. Order and Elementary Excitations

Cambridge University Press, 2010. — 316 p. — ISBN: 9780521835213.Aimed at graduate students and researchers, this book covers the key aspects of the modern quantum theory of solids, including up-to-date ideas such as quantum fluctuations and strong electron correlations. It presents in the main concepts of the modern quantum theory of solids, as well as a general description of the essential theoretical methods required when working with these systems. Diverse topics such as general theory of phase transitions, harmonic and anharmonic lattices, bose condensation and superfluidity, modern aspects of magnetism including resonating valence bonds, electrons in metals, and strong electron correlations are treated using unifying concepts of order and elementary excitations. The main theoretical tools used to treat these problems are introduced and explained in a simple way, and their applications are demonstrated through concrete examples.Presents all the main concepts together with modern ideas such as quantum fluctuations and strong electron correlations to provide complete coverage of the topic.
Treats diverse topics through the unifying concepts of order and elementary excitations to allow the reader to see this big subject as one.
Introduces the main theoretical tools, demonstrating their applications through concrete examples.Table of ContentsSome basic notions of the classical and quantum statistical physics
General theory of phase transitions
Bose- and Fermi-statistics
Phonons in crystals
General Bose-systems: Bose-condensation
Magnetism
Electrons in metals
Interacting electrons: Green functions and Feynman diagrams (methods of the field theory in many-particle physics)
Electrons with Coulomb interaction
Fermi-liquid theory and its possible generalizations
Instabilities and phase transitions in electronic systems
Strongly correlated electrons
Magnetic impurities in metals, Kondo effect, heavy fermions and mixed valence