Conductor-insulator quantum phase transitions / [edited by] Vladimir Dobrosavljevic, Nandini Trivedi, James M. Valles, Jr.

Includes bibliographical references.

"Quantum phase transitions describe the violent rearrangement of electrons or atoms as they evolve from well defined excitations in one phase to a completely different set of excitations in another. The chapters in this book give insights into how a coherent metallic or superconducting state can be driven into an incoherent insulating state by increasing disorder, magnetic field, carrier concentration and inter-electron interactions. The problem necessarily involves many interacting particles and therein lies the challenge to develop a multi-faceted theory. Experiments probing microscopic structure, transport, charge and spin dynamics provide important clues. What sets this book apart is a strong dialog between experiment and theory that has the potential to solve some major issues in many-body physics. The ideas and methods developed here are bound to have repercussions in all spheres of physics."--P. [4] of cover.