Nelson D. The Renormalization Group and Condensed Matter Physics 2025

Textbook in PDF format

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 “active matter”; and more