This book first introduces a single polaron and describes recent achievements in analytical and numerical studies of polaron properties in different e-ph models. It then describes multi-polaron physics as well as many key physical properties of high-temperature superconductors, colossal magnetoresistance oxides, conducting polymers and molecular nanowires, which were understood with polarons and bipolarons.

A distinctive introduction to the principles governing polaron science for experimental and theoretical graduate students and researchers.

The 1982 Antwerp Advanced Study Institute on "Physics of Polarons and Excitons in Polar Semiconductors and Ionic Crystals" took place from July 26 till August 5 at the Conference Center Priorij Corsen donk, a restored monastery, close to the city of Antwerp. It was the seventh Institute in our series which started in 1971. This Advanced Study Institute, which was held fifty years after Landau introduced the polaron concept, can be considered as the third major international symposium devoted to the physics of pola rons. The first such symposium took place in St. Andrews in 1962 under the title "Polarons and Excitons" [I]. The early theoretical developments related to polarons were reviewed in depth at this meeting; the derivation of the polaron hamiltonian by Frohlich, the Frohlich weak coupling theory (and the equivalent weak coupling canonical transformations), the Landau-Pekar and Bogolubov strong coupling theory and the Feynman polaron model formulated with his path integrals. The main emphasis was on the polaron self-energy, effective mass and mobility. From the experimental side the first evidence for polaron effects was provided by the pioneering cyclotron and mobility measurements o~ the silver halides by F. e. Brown and his group. Also the significance of polaron effects for the under standing of excitons in ionic crystals was a central topic in St. Andrews. The second Advanced Study Institute concerning polaron physics was organized at the University of Antwerp (R. U. C. A.

This book provides a comprehensive review of the subject of polaron and a thorough account of the sophisticated theories of the polaron. It explains the concept of the polaron physics in as simple a manner as possible and presents the theoretical techniques and mathematical derivations in great detail. Anybody who follows this book will develop a solid command over the subject both conceptually and technically and will be in a position to contribute to this field.

Polyacetylence, (CH)x is the simplest conjugated polymer. Prestine polyacetylence is a good insulator, whereas its highly doped version exhibits metal-like electrical conductivity. This book gives a detailed introduction to this rapidly-developing field is given along with a collection of original papers. The main purpose is to help chemists and physicists grasp the main ideas and most important facts; an expert may also find it useful as a reference volume.

Attempts to treat electron-phonon coupled systems, with emphasis on Many Body aspects for dense electron systems, taking into account continuum as well as lattice polaron effects. This work aims to introduce the study of such systems, where strong electron-electron correlations and large electron-phonon coupling strengths play important roles.

The properties of self-localized carriers on a lattice are described at a fairly basic level with an emphasis on modern developments in the theory of strong-coupling superconductivity. Large and small polarons and bipolarons provide a number of new physical phenomena both in the normal and superconducting states. The physics of high temperature superconductors is described and explained.