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The Random Phase Approximation (RPA) is a technical method used in field theory to account for interactions when calculating correlation functions. It consists of only keeping a certain class of diagrams when doing a perturbative calculation of a certain function, such as a susceptibility or dielectric function.

Is there a simple mathematical justification to this method, other than "it is simple and it fits experimental data", which is already a good justification? Why don't we include the vertex corrections and other self-energy terms?

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    $\begingroup$ See Altland-Simons page 216. Basically, the RPA Feynman diagrams have the largest contribution in the limit of high electron density. $\endgroup$
    – leongz
    Commented May 24, 2017 at 9:02
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks, exactly what I was looking for ! If you want to elaborate your comment into an answer I will accept it. $\endgroup$
    – Dimitri
    Commented May 24, 2017 at 10:18

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RPA is the first order approximation in $1/N$ (which is often called the Large-$N$ expansion), where $N$ is the number of fermions in the system. In the system with spin up and spin down, then $N=2$. Therefore, RPA is exact in the hypothetical system with $N\rightarrow \infty$.

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    $\begingroup$ Thanks. In usual theories $N$ is no larger than $2$ or $3$, so is the limit $N \rightarrow \infty$ really relevant ? $\endgroup$
    – Dimitri
    Commented Apr 3, 2017 at 13:44

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