Open AccessWhat is a quasi-particle?
Author(s) -
J. R. Schrieffer
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
journal of research of the national bureau of standards. section a. physics and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2376-5704
pISSN - 0022-4332
DOI - 10.6028/jres.074a.044
Subject(s) - renormalization , physics , particle (ecology) , wave–particle duality , excitation , statistical physics , function (biology) , fermi liquid theory , domain (mathematical analysis) , particle system , classical mechanics , quantum electrodynamics , quantum mechanics , electron , mathematics , mathematical analysis , computer science , oceanography , evolutionary biology , biology , geology , operating system
The concept of a quasi-particle excitation in an interacting many-body system will be discussed from both the physical and the mathematical points of view. The physical origin of mass enhancement, wave function renormalization, interactions between quasi-particles, etc . will be presented. Landau's Fermi liquid theory, including the quasi-particle kinetic equation, will be reviewed. Finally, the domain of validity of the quasi-particle approximation will be discussed.