Quantum Theory of the Electron Liquid

Comprehensive graduate text on subject of importance in condensed matter physics, electrical engineering and quantum chemistry.

Gabriele Giuliani (Author), Giovanni Vignale (Author)

9780521527965, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 19 June 2008

800 pages, 207 b/w illus. 40 tables 165 exercises
24.5 x 17.2 x 4 cm, 1.26 kg

'The book, unquestionably attractive to the more experienced reader… is an invaluable source of material for many-body theory as a part of condensed matter physics graduate courses. The book contains sophisticated and important concepts, such as spin-dependant effective electronic interactions, a subject virtually impossible to find in other textbooks. Every graduate student and researcher studying condensed matter theory should obtain a copy of this exceptional text.' Physics Today

Modern electronic devices and novel materials often derive their extraordinary properties from the intriguing, complex behavior of large numbers of electrons forming what is known as an electron liquid. This book provides an in-depth introduction to the physics of the interacting electron liquid in a broad variety of systems, including metals, semiconductors, artificial nano-structures, atoms and molecules. One, two and three dimensional systems are treated separately and in parallel. Different phases of the electron liquid, from the Landau Fermi liquid to the Wigner crystal, from the Luttinger liquid to the quantum Hall liquid are extensively discussed. Both static and time-dependent density functional theory are presented in detail. Although the emphasis is on the development of the basic physical ideas and on a critical discussion of the most useful approximations, the formal derivation of the results is highly detailed and based on the simplest, most direct methods.

1. Introduction to the electron liquid
2. The Hartree-Fock approximation
3. Linear response theory
4. Linear response of independent electrons
5. Linear response of an interacting electron liquid
6. The perturbative calculation of linear response functions
7. Density functional theory
8. The normal Fermi liquid
9. The one-dimensional electron gas and the Luttinger liquid
10. The two-dimensional electron gas at high magnetic field.

Subject Areas: Electronic devices & materials [TJFD], Condensed matter physics [liquid state & solid state physics PHFC]