Many Particle Physics (Physics of Solids and Liquids) [Hardcover]

Gerald D. Mahan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0306463385 | ISBN-13: 978-0306463389 | Edition: 3nd

This comprehensive textbook utilizes Green's functions and the equations derived from them to solve real physical problems in solid-state theoretical physics. Green's functions are used to describe processes in solids and quantum fluids and to address problems in areas such as electron gas, polarons, electron transport, optical response, superconductivity and superfluidity. The updated third edition features several new chapters on different mean-free paths, Hubbard model, Coulomb blockade, and the quantum Hall effect. New sections have been added, while original sections have been modified to include recent applications. This text is ideal for third- or fourth-year graduate students and includes numerous study problems and an extensive bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

Review

About the First Edition: `This is a worthy newcomer and will make an excellent teaching text.' Physics Bulletin `The book should serve as a valuable contribution to the library of students and researchers in solid state and theoretical physics.' Philosophical Magazine About the Second Edition: `Since its first edition, this book has become one of the most popular textbooks in quantum many-body theory, thus guaranteeing the interest of the scientific community in this second edition.' Mathematical Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 785 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 3nd edition (January 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306463385
• ISBN-13: 978-0306463389
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #273,651 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #77 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Physics > Solid-State Physics

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Containing too many misprints., November 18, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Many Particle Physics (Physics of Solids and Liquids) (Hardcover)

Unfortunately, the 3rd edition of Mahan's book contains enormous number of misprints. Sometimes, it is impossible to understand what is meant by the author without consulting the previous edition. For example, in Sec. 4.1.5. the author refers in the text to the equation which apparently should be between Eqs. (4.126) and (4.127) but which had been omitted. At the same time, some evident drawbacks of the previous edition have not been corrected. For example, the definition of the thermodynamic average used in Sec. 3.6 is different from that used in the previous sections, although it is not mentioned in the text. Despite the book is an excellent introduction into the field of Many-Particle Physics, I would recommend to the customer to either buy the previous edition or to wait for a new one.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you got here, you probably need this as a reference, December 20, 2008

By 

Cristiano Nisoli (Los Alamos NM, USA and Lombardy, Italy) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Many Particle Physics (Physics of Solids and Liquids) (Hardcover)

Dr. Mahan has crafted a veritable encyclopedia of results and methods in quantum many body and beyond. Much more complete that others, much clearer, less pedantic, it also has the advantage of not being too wedded to any particular formalism (like e.g. Fetter Walecka does with Green functions). Dr. Mahan, does not force unifying frameworks on the issue at hand, but instead takes a more empirical approach, which allows him to present each problem in the most spontaneous and clear way. Highly recommended for all theoretical physicists.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book but so much money, July 21, 2006

By 

Jeff (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Many Particle Physics (Physics of Solids and Liquids) (Hardcover)

This book is massive and covers a huge spectrum of material. Probably not cost effective in comparison to Fetter and Walecka unless you get it for under eighty bucks. I enjoyed it quite a bit until the Postal Service stole it from me.