Finite temperature many-particle theory of condensed matter systems in the functional Schroedinger picture

TL;DR

This paper develops a finite temperature many-particle theory for condensed matter systems using the functional Schrödinger picture, providing a variational approach with Gaussian trial density matrices that reproduces finite temperature Hartree-Fock results.

Contribution

It introduces a novel formalism for finite temperature many-particle systems in the functional Schrödinger picture, demonstrating its effectiveness with the electron gas model.

Findings

Reproduces finite temperature Hartree-Fock results for electron gas

Provides a simple variational method for finite temperature systems

Discusses implications and future directions of the formalism

Abstract

A finite temperature many-particle theory of condensed matter systems is formulated using the functional Schroedinger picture. Using the interacting electron gas as a model system, we solve the equation of motion for the density matrix variationally with a Gaussian type trial density matrix. We show that the present formalism yields the finite temperature Hartree-Fock results both for the para- and ferromagnetic states in a simple and convenient fashion. Implications of the present results and future prospects are also discussed.