Supermathematics and its applications in statistical physics. Grassmann variables and the method of supersymmetry (Q261515)

The book consists of three parts, the first one provides an introduction into both mathematical and physical picture of situations, where Grassmann variables can play a useful role, the second chapter gives the corresponding mathematical consideration at a deeper level, and the last, third part, applies the methods considered in the second part to more sophisticated problems of statistical physics. The anticommutative variables, which form the Grassmann algebra represent a very natural basis for the representation of fields considered in the theory of electromagnetism and quantum mechanics; the generalization on the case of Grassmann analysis directly leads to the path integrals and Green functions representations. Among the possible integrals, introduced in the first part of the book, the Gauss integrals play especially important role because of their applications in statistical physics. As one of most demonstrable examples of application, which is considered in the book, is the two-dimensional Ising model. Since its partition function on the square lattice can be represented as an integral over Grassmann variables, it is shown that the subsequent calculations, including divergence of the specific heat, can be evaluated literally in few strings. The second part has a more general and a more abstract character. The supermathematics approach operates with the both commuting and anticommuting variables simultaneously. As a result, it allows a consideration of symmetric and antisymmetric complex matrices and their functions. The presented and discussed integral theorems group representations lead to reduction of functions by cancelling equal numbers of even and odd components. The last part discusses various applications of the supersymmetry discussed above to the problems of statistical physics. First of all, they are the problems of high-energy physics combining bosonic (symmetric) and fermionic (antisymmetric) fields. These mathematical methods have common features with the ones typical for fluctuating variables in non-equilibrium stochastic systems including diffusion and tiling lattice problems, fluctuation-dissipation relations, some problem of polymer physics. In addition to explanations of the topic, each chapter contains a set of illustrating problems supplied with answers in the book's end. Thus, this monograph can be used for practical teaching as well.