What is the ladder approximation and how does it work?

[ledamage]

Hi there!

In some papers related to statistical field theory and condensed matter I've encountered the ladder approximation. It apparently corresponds to the summation of a certain class of Feynman diagrams. I've tried Google and some field theory books to learn more about this but I've found nothing, at least nothing pedagogigal.

Does anyone know a book which explains the ladder approximation? I want to know how it exactly works, in which cases it can be used and what the approximation actually neglects.

Thanks!
ledamage

 

[malawi_glenn]

The book of Gross (relativistic quantum mechanics and field theory) covers it I think

 

[saaskis]

I think you should take a look at R. Mattuck, "A Guide to Feynman Diagrams in the Many-Body Problem", chap. 10 (Dyson's equation, Renormalization, RPA and Ladder Approximations). You can find the book in Google Books.