The description of collective motions in terms of many-body perturbation theory

Abstract In this and a succeeding paper it is shown how a theory equivalent to the Bohm & Pines collective motion theory of the electron plasma can be derived directly from a perturbation series which gives in principle an exact solution of the many-body problem. This result is attained by making use of a diagrammatic method of analysis of the perturbation series. By a process analogous to the elimination of photon self-energy parts from the electrodynamic S matrix it is found possible to simplify the perturbation series, introducing a modified interaction between the particles. A useful integral equation for this modified interaction can be set up, and it is shown how the energy of the system can be expressed in terms of the modified interaction. The close connexion between this approach and the dielectric theory of plasma oscillations is indicated.