Field theory, topology and condensed matter physics : proceedings of the Ninth Chris Engelbrecht Summer School in Theoretical Physics, held at Storms River Mouth, Tsitsikamma National Park, South Africa, 17-28 January 1994

This topical volume contains five pedagogically written articles on the interplay between field theory and condensed matter physics. The main emphasis is on the topological aspects, and especially quantum Hall fluids, and superconductivity is treated extensively. Other topics are conformal invariance and path integrals. The articles are carefully edited so that the book could ideally serve as a text for special graduate courses. Introduction to conformal invariance in statistical mechanics and to random surface models....Pages 1-54 Introduction to path integrals, matrix models and strings....Pages 55-98 Quantum hall fluids....Pages 99-153 Topological orders and edge excitations in fractional quantum hall states....Pages 155-176 Topological mechanism of superconductivity....Pages 177-206 This volume contains five articles on the interplay between field theory and condensed matter physics. The main emphasis is on the topological aspects, quantum Hall fluids and superconductivity. Other topics discussed are conformal invariance and path integrals.