Renormalization group theory. Impact on experimental magnetism (Q1040897)

Spin wave theory of magnetism and BCS theory of superconductivity are typical theories of the time before renormalization group (RG) theory. The two theories consider atomistic interactions only and ignore the energy degrees of freedom of the continuous (infinite) solid. RG theory certainly constitutes the most important progress in theoretical solid state physics since the development of quantum mechanics. These two theories now have to be reconsidered critically, and they appear to be only a preliminary step towards a complete understanding of collective ordering phenomena in solids. Because of the general and revolutionary consequences of RG theory on all parts of physics it seems to be justified to distinguish between solid state physics before and after RG theory. It appears necessary to interpret many earlier experimental results anew using RG theory as superior heuristic guide instead of conventional theories. The authors perform a new analysis of many experimental data published long ago and present their own experimental results only for completeness wherein data are missing in the literature. Note that many of the reconsidered experimental results are older than 30 years. In the book under review, the authors approach the RG theory from the phenomenological point of view of the experimentalist. The goal is to retrieve the concepts and principles of the RG theory in experiments, and hence the general applicability of this theory. It is focused on magnetic phenomena. As mentioned, the main concern of this book is the experimental verification that there is continuous dynamic symmetry everywhere in the magnetically ordered state. This is the essential and new point compared to conventional theories which consider atomistic symmetry only. This book reviews the experimental work on solid state physics of the last five decades and shows in a phenomenological way that the dynamics of ordered magnets and conventional superconductors is controlled by the field particles of the infinite solid and not by magnons and Cooper pairs, respectively. Here is the contents of the book: 1. Introduction; 2. History of conventional spin wave theory; 3. Basic issues of Renormalization Group (RG) theory; 4. Universality; 5. Microscopic processes; 6. Non-relevant magnons; 7. Crossover phenomena; 8. Metastability of universality classes; 9. Relevant and non relevant interactions; 10. Temperature dependence of the magnon excitation spectra; 11. Magnetic heat capacity; 12. Experimental verification of GSW bosons; 13. Magnets with and without magnon gap (Goldstone mode); 14. Microscopic details: spin structure, site disorder, two order parameters; 15. The critical magnetic behaviour; 16. Thermal lattice expansion and magnetostriction; 17. The total energy content; 18. Superconductivity; 19. Conclusions.