The book provides a generalized theoretical technique for solving the fewbody Schrödinger
equation. Straight forward approaches to solve it in terms of position vectors of constituent
particles and using standard mathematical techniques become too cumbersome and inconvenient
when the system contains more than two particles. The introduction of Jacobi vectors
hyperspherical variables and hyperspherical harmonics as an expansion basis is an elegant way
to tackle systematically the problem of an increasing number of interacting particles. Analytic
expressions for hyperspherical harmonics appropriate symmetrisation of the wave function under
exchange of identical particles and calculation of matrix elements of the interaction have been
presented. Applications of this technique to various problems of physics have been discussed.
In spite of straight forward generalization of the mathematical tools for increasing number of
particles the method becomes computationally difficult for more than a few particles. Hence
various approximation methods have also been discussed. Chapters on the potential harmonics and
its application to Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) have been included to tackle dilute system
of a large number of particles. A chapter on special numerical algorithms has also been
provided. This monograph is a reference material for theoretical research in the few-body
problems for research workers starting from advanced graduate level students to senior
scientists.
