Description
Book SynopsisThis book provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory of phase transitions and critical phenomena. The content covers a period of more than 100 years of theoretical research of condensed matter phases and phase transitions providing a clear interrelationship with experimental problems. It starts from certain basic University knowledge of thermodynamics, statistical physics and quantum mechanics. The text is illustrated with classic examples of phase transitions. Various types of phase transition and (multi)critical points are introduced and explained. The classic aspects of the theory are naturally related with the modern developments. This interrelationship and the field-theoretical renormalization group method are presented in details. The main applications of the renormalization group methods are presented. Special attention is paid to the description of quantum phase transitions. This edition contains a more detailed presentation of the renormalization group method and its applications to particular systems.
Table of ContentsClassical Theories of Phase Transitions:Basic Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics;Thermodynamic Approach to Phase Transitions;Landau Theory;Weiss Theory and Mean-Field Approximation;Phase Diagrams;Types of Phase Transitions and Critical Phenomena (Multicritical Points in Complex Systems);; Modern Theories:Scaling;Universality;Length-Scale Invariance and Renormalization Group Methods;Applications to Various Condensed Matter Systems (Vapor-Liquid-Solid, Magnets, Superconductors, Bose-Einstein Condensation);Anisotropy;Disorder and Quantum Effects;Quantum Critical Phenomena;Advanced Topics and Outstanding Problems;and other papers.;;
