In this primer to the many-body theory of condensed-matter systems, the authors introduce the subject to the non-specialist in a broad, concise, and up-to-date manner. A wide range of topics are covered including the second quantization of operators, coherent states, quantum-mechanical Green's functions, linear response theory, and Feynman diagrammatic perturbation theory. Material is also incorporated from quantum optics, low-dimensional systems such as graphene, and localized excitations in systems with boundaries as in nanoscale materials. Over 100 problems are included at the end of chapters, which are used both to consolidate concepts and to introduce new material. This book is suitable as a teaching tool for graduate courses and is ideal for non-specialist students and researchers working in physics, materials science, chemistry, or applied mathematics who want to use the tools of many-body theory.

'This textbook for physics graduate courses introduces some of the mathematical methods used in applying the many-body theory of condensed matter. Researchers in other disciplines who desire to apply these methods in materials science, chemistry, or applied mathematics will appreciate …' F. Potter, Choice

Michael G. Cottam is a Professor of Physics in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Western Ontario. He has previously been the Chair of the Department of Physics & Astronomy, the Director of Western University's Institute for Nanomaterials Science, and the Associate Dean in the Faculty of Science. Zahra Haghshenasfard holds PhDs from both the University of Isfahan in quantum optics and nonlinear processes, and from the University of Western Ontario in nonlinear processes for the magnetization dynamics in nanowires.