In Feynman's lecture on the independent particle approximation (vol III, ch 15 - available in volume 4 of the audio lectures), he describes spin waves. Spin waves are one kind of boojum that can propagate through a crystal lattice.
The fun problem that he glosses over is the interaction of two spin waves in a single lattice. In the lecture he remarks that he was able to solve it, but didn't bring the solution with him. The text contains the exact solution in a parenthetical remark, with no further discussion of where the solution comes from.
So the next few posts will be describing my adventures in understanding what's going on.
August 4, 2005 12:17 AM
| TrackBack