Quantum Theory of the Electron Liquid

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-, twoand 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. A self-contained, comprehensive presentation of the necessary techniques, from second quantization to canonical transformations to both zero and finite temperature Green’s functions is provided. This comprehensive text will be of value to graduate students in physics, electrical engineering and quantum chemistry, as well as practicing researchers in those areas.