Field Theory of Non-Equilibrium Systems

by Alex Kamenev

Overview

The physics of non-equilibrium many-body systems is one of the most rapidly expanding areas of theoretical physics. Traditionally used in the study of laser physics and superconducting kinetics, these techniques have more recently found applications in the study of dynamics of cold atomic gases, mesoscopic and nano-mechanical systems. The book gives a self-contained presentation of the modern functional approach to non-equilibrium field-theoretical methods. They are applied to examples ranging from biophysics to the kinetics of superfluids and superconductors. Its step-by-step treatment gives particular emphasis to the pedagogical aspects, making it ideal as a reference for advanced graduate students and researchers in condensed matter physics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781139930796
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	09/08/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	27 MB
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About the Author

Alex Kamenev is a Professor in the William I. Fine Theoretical Physics Institute (FTPI) and the Department of Physics at the University of Minnesota. Since gaining his Ph.D. at the Weizmann Institute of Science in 1996, he has held a postdoctoral position at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the assistant professorship at the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion).

Table of Contents

1. Introduction; 2. Bosons; 3. Single particle quantum mechanics; 4. Classical stochastic systems; 5. Bosonic fields; 6. Dynamics of collisionless plasma; 7. Kinetics of Bose condensates; 8. Dynamics of phase transitions; 9. Fermions; 10. Quantum transport; 11. Disordered fermionic systems; 12. Mesoscopic effects; 13. Electron-electron interactions in disordered metals; 14. Dynamics of disordered superconductors; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"... a lively pedagogical exposition of the Keldysh technique based on functional integration. At the start, the author uses the simplest possible system - a harmonic oscillator - to provide a detailed description of the method... a welcome introduction to the field and could well become a classic."
Vojkan Jaksic, McGill University for Physics Today

From the Publisher