9QLMN-X101-PHY - Introduction to second quantization : from quantum optics to condensed matter

This set of 9 lectures is an introduction to the basic ideas and some applications of quantum field theory applied condensed matter and optical physics. The first 4 lectures concern the quantization of the electromagnetic field. This will lead us to a brief introduction to the field of quantum optics. In the remaining lectures we will quantize the field corresponding to the wave function of a material particle obeying the Schrödinger equation. Since the Schrödinger equation is already a quantum equation, quantizing it again is often referred to by the admittedly confusing term "2nd quantization". 2nd quantization may seem superfluous, but we will show that this formalism allows one to treat manybody problems in a compact and coherent way.