Renormalization group ideas have had a major impact on condensed matter physics for more than a half century. This book develops the theory and illustrates the broad applicability of the renormalization group to major problems in condensed matter physics. Based on course materials developed and class-tested by the authors at Harvard University, the book will be especially useful for students, as well as researchers in condensed matter physics, soft matter physics, biophysics, and statistical physics. After reviewing Ising models, lattice gases, and critical point phenomena, the book covers quantum critical phenomena; the statistical mechanics of linear polymer chains; fluctuating sheet polymers; the dynamics associated with the Navier-Stokes equations and simplified models of randomly stirred fluids; the properties of 鈥渁ctive matter鈥�; and more.
- Explores the broad applicability of renormalization groups to condensed matter
- Covers critical phenomena in different dimensions, quantum critical points, polymer physics and flexural phonons in free-standing graphene, nonequilibrium fluid dynamics, and more
- Provides a modern, physics-centered entr茅e, suitable for both course use and self-study
- Features material ideal for graduate-level students as well as researchers
- Includes exercises throughout
- Offers a solutions manual for exercises (available only to instructors)
"This is one of the very best physics books I have ever read. I like the clarity of thought, the physical intuition that has been masterfully woven into the text, the pedagogical structure that builds one thought upon another, the clear figures, and the choice of topics that start from basic knowledge and end with the most modern applications of the techniques introduced. The attractive writing style also makes the text easy and fun to read. A truly outstanding introduction and the textbook that the field has been waiting for.”—Karin Dahmen, University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign
“This marvelous book should be in every physicist’s library. It contains clear explanations of the underlying physics and sophisticated but surprisingly easy-to-read renormalization group treatments of strongly interacting fluctuations with emphasis on experimentally measurable quantities.”—J. Michael Kosterlitz, 2016 Physics Nobel Laureate
“A masterfully crafted work that provides a comprehensive and insightful exposition of renormalization group methods and their broad applications. Drawing from decades of teaching and research, the book seamlessly guides the reader through fundamental concepts, culminating in advanced topics that are rarely covered with such depth in a single volume. The book’s clear exposition, coupled with its thoughtful blend of historical context and modern developments, makes this an invaluable resource for both students and researchers.” —Mehran Kardar, author of Statistical Physics of Particles
“David Nelson is a leading condensed matter theorist, and this textbook reflects the wide and deep contributions that he has made for several decades. It explains how to use the renormalization group to extract the universal properties of continuous phase transitions in a wide range on physically important systems. I am not aware of any other book with the scope of this one.”—Eduardo Fradkin, University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign
“The renormalization group is one of the great triumphs of physical reasoning and pure thought: it has impacted nearly every field of physics and is the keystone that supports our best understanding of pure and applied phenomena. This masterful volume offers the reader an elegant and modern account of a variety of condensed matter systems, based on lectures honed and research practiced over the last half century.”—Randall Kamien, University of Pennsylvania
“This book is a delightful, masterfully delivered course that introduces the reader to the critical phenomena of Landau’s phase transitions theory and applications to frontier research topics. The crystal-clear exposition makes this a fantastic guide for a second-semester graduate course on statistical mechanics. Highly pedagogical, yet concise and self-contained, it nicely balances between technical details and physical insight and is supported by excellent figures and creative problems.”—Leo Radzihovsky, University of Colorado Boulder
“The authors have written an invaluable resource for those wishing to understand (and extend!) the contributions of the renormalization group to condensed matter physics, presenting calculations with extraordinary clarity, providing deep physical intuition, and making connections to experiments when possible. Readers will be sure to appreciate the excellent problems, discipline-spanning perspective, and elegance of presentation.”—Abigail Plummer, Boston University
“This wonderful book, grown out of decades of seminal research and teaching, perfectly balances mathematical developments and physical insights into the phenomenology of condensed matter. Of special note is the authors’ ability to smoothly cross boundaries between subjects by having diverse topics such as quantum critical phenomena and mesoscopic turbulence approached through a unified set of theoretical tools and concepts. This is an important and lasting lesson for students and researchers alike.”—Vincenzo Vitelli, coauthor of Soft Matter
