More than two-dozen contributions from international researchers report on the state of the art in statistical field theories. They discuss new methods of solution, including current developments in conformal field theory. Other topics include, for example, boundary effects in integrable models and condensed matter systems with quenched disorder. The volume concludes with a section devoted mostly to the quantum Hall effect and its many facets. The editors are with the National Institute of Nuclear Physics in Italy. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Recent developments in theoretical physics include new instances of the unification of quite different phenomena. The theoretical community is challenged by the growing interactions between high-energy physics, statistical physics, and condensed matter physics. The common language, though, is exact solutions of two-dimensional and conformable field theories. This volume is a faithful representation of this interdisciplinary domain. Conformable and integrable field theories have been active research topics for several decades. The main recent developments concern the boundary effects and applications to disordered systems. The number of applications of the exact methods to condensed-matter problems has been growing over the years. Nowadays it is widely recognized that strongly interacting systems in low dimensions can be successfully described by integrable and conformable theories. This volume is an indispensable aid to those seeking to find their way in this domain.
Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop, held in Como, Italy, from 18-23 June, 2001
