The Role of Topology in Classical and Quantum Physics

In solid-state physics especially topological techniques have turned out to be extremely useful for modelling and explaining physical properties of matter. This book illustrates various applications of algebraic topology in classical field theory (non-linear sigma-models) and in quantizationsin multiply connected spaces (anyons). It treats Chern-Simon Lagrangians, Berry's phase, the polarization of light and the fractional quantum Hall effect.