Equilibrium and Non-Equilibrium diagrammatic techniques

for many-particle systems

 

Priv. Doz. Dr. Mikhail Kiselev

 

2 hours per week  (in English)

 

This lecture course is proposed for the students starting from 6 Semester, interested in a Diploma Project in theoretical physics. This course gives an introduction to modern methods of theoretical physics (Feynman diagram technique, path integral representation, Schwinger-Keldysh formalism). The applications of equilibrium and non-equilibrium (real-time) approaches for many-particle systems will be illustrated by numerous examples (Fermi-liquid theory, Bose-Einstein condensation, perturbation theory in mesoscopic and nano-systems etc). The “language” of Feynman diagrams is widely used in modern scientific publications and is very useful both for the visualization of results of calculations of physical quantities and the interpretation of various many-particle effects. The course will be useful for students interested in theory of low-dimensional systems and strongly correlated phenomena. It includes the following chapters:

  • Methods of second quantization. Fermi and Bose operators.
  • Partition function. Path integral representation.
  • Feynman diagram technique at zero temperature. Wick’s theorem.
  • Several examples of the application of diagrammatic technique at T=0 (Coulomb interaction, magnetic correlations).
  • Diagrammatic technique at finite temperatures (Matsubara formalism). Path integral representation. Effective action approach. “Fast” and “slow” variables. Plasmons and excitons.
  • Basic concepts of Fermi-liquid theory. Luttinger theorem. Ward identities.
  • Bose-Einstein Condensation. Weakly interacting Bose gas. Coulomb interaction in Bose-systems.
  • Superfluidity and superconductivity. Gor’kov equations.
  • Diagrammatic technique for local spins. Schwinger bosons, pseudo-fermions, Hubbard operators, semi-fermions.  Kondo effect.
  • Green’s functions in the theory of phase transitions. Fluctuations. Critical dynamics. Scaling.
  • Real-time (non-equilibrium) formalism. Path integral representation. Keldysh contour. Kinetic equation.
  • Applications of non-equilibrium (Schwinger-Keldysh) diagrammatic technique in mesoscopics.

 

Recommended literature:

    1. G.Mahan, Many-particle physics (Plenum press, NY) 1993
    2. J.W.Negele and H.Orland, Quantum Many-Particle Systems (Addison Wesley, Reading, MA), 1988
    3. A.Auerbach, Interacting electrons and Quantum Magnetism (Springer-Verlag), 1994