Theory HEP Seminar

How are 1+1-dimensional quantum field theories applicable to condensed matter systems?

David Sénéchal

Université de Sherbrooke

The intent of this talk is to explain to a high-energy physics audience how bosonization (both Abelian and non-Abelian) can be applied to condensed matter systems that are quasi-one-dimensional in character. We will review (1) the basic philosophy behind the use of quantum field theory, (2) how the continuum limit can be taken in a condensed matter system of interacting electrons in one spatial dimension. We will then show in some detail how such a system can be described by a boson field, or in terms of a Wess-Zumino-Witten field to bring out basic features of the model, e.g. how an excitation gap develops as a function of a perturbation.