to conformal invariance in statistical mechanics and to random surface models -- to path integrals, matrix models and strings -- Quantum hall fluids -- Topological orders and edge excitations in fractional quantum hall states -- Topological mechanism of superconductivity.

This topical volume contains five pedagogically written articles on the interplay between field theory and condensed matter physics. The main emphasis is on the topological aspects, and especially quantum Hall fluids, and superconductivity is treated extensively. Other topics are conformal invariance and path integrals. The articles are carefully edited so that the book could ideally serve as a text for special graduate courses.