Memory Function Approach to Correlated Electron Transport: A Comprehensive Review

TL;DR

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the memory function formalism, highlighting its historical development and diverse applications in studying transport and optical properties of strongly correlated electronic systems.

Contribution

It offers an in-depth, unified overview of the memory function approach from its origins to modern applications in correlated electron systems.

Findings

Revival of memory function methods in correlated systems

Application to non-equilibrium dynamics and optical properties

Clarification of the method's theoretical foundations

Abstract

Memory function formalism or projection operator technique is an extremely useful method to study the transport and optical properties of various condensed matter systems. A recent revival of its uses in various correlated electronic systems is being observed. It is being used and discussed in various contexts, ranging from non-equilibrium dynamics to the optical properties of various strongly correlated systems such as high temperature superconductors. However, a detailed discussion on this method, starting from its origin to its present day applications at one place is lacking. In this article we attempt a comprehensive review of the memory function approach focusing on its uses in studying the dynamics and the transport properties of correlated electronic systems.