Many-Particle QM Course Prep: Best Textbooks

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on recommended textbooks for a graduate-level course in many-body quantum mechanics, covering topics such as Fock space, second quantization, many-particle Green functions, and superfluid physics. Key recommendations include "Quantum Theory of Many-Particle Systems" by Fetter and Walecka (1971) for foundational concepts, and "Condensed Matter Field Theory" by Altland and Simons (2010) for a modern perspective. Additional resources include Danielewicz's works on nonequilibrium processes and Keldysh's diagram technique for nonequilibrium states.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Fock space and second quantization
  • Familiarity with many-particle Green functions
  • Basic knowledge of quantum field theory (QFT)
  • Concepts of superfluid physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study "Quantum Theory of Many-Particle Systems" by Fetter and Walecka
  • Explore "Condensed Matter Field Theory" by Altland and Simons
  • Review Danielewicz's papers on nonequilibrium processes
  • Learn Keldysh's diagram technique for nonequilibrium states
USEFUL FOR

Graduate students in physics, researchers in quantum mechanics, and educators preparing advanced courses in many-body quantum systems.

hilbert2
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Hi, I'm going to have a long graduate-level course on many-body quantum mechanics next fall and I'm already trying to prepare for it. I have the lecture notes that were used in the same course two years ago, but they are hand-written and a bit tedious to read. Can anyone suggest a good textbook on the subject? Material that will be covered includes Fock space, second quantization, many-particle Green functions and a little about the physics of superfluids. Thanks in advance.
 
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The alltime classic for non-relativistic QFT (and that seems to be what you need) is

Fetter, Alexander L., Walecka, John Dirk: Quantum Theory of Many-Particle Systems, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1971

For a more modern treatment, including path integrals, see

Altland, A., Simons, B.: Condensed Matter Field Theory, 2 edition, Cambridge University Press, 2010

and, last but not least, also a bit of real-time formalism, for which I recommend

Danielewicz, P.: Quantum Theory of Nonequilibrium Processes I, Ann. Phys. 152, 239, 1984
Danielewicz, P.: Quantum Theory of Nonequilibrium Processes II. Application to Nuclear Collisions, Ann. Phys. 152, 305–326, 1984
Rammer, J.: Quantum Field Theory of Non-equilibrium States, Cambridge University Press, 2007

and of course

Keldysh, L.P.: Diagram Technique for Nonequilibrium Processes, Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz. 47, 1515, 1964, [Sov. Phys JETP 20 1965 1018]
 
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