Many-body problem
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This article is about the many-body problem in quantum mechanics. For the n-body problem in classical mechanics, see n-body problem.
The many-body problem is usually posed in quantum mechanics, as the question of solving for more complex problems than the hydrogen atom — for example, the chemistry of all realistic molecules.
- "It would indeed be remarkable if Nature fortified herself against further advances in knowledge behind the analytical difficulties of the many-body problem."
- - Max Born, 1960
The many-body problem may be defined as the study of the effects of interaction between bodies on the behaviour of a many-body system. One of the preferred methods for solving the problem is simply to ignore it, i.e., pretend there are no interactions present.
Another approach is the canonical transformation technique.