You need a very strong handle on linear algebra and complex analysis.
It provides a solid foundation for Berry phases, Chern numbers, and the Hall effects, which are critical for current research. Condensed Matter Field Theory, Second Edition
It's doable if you’ve already taken a solid course in undergraduate Quantum Mechanics and Statistical Mechanics. You need a very strong handle on linear
While it is an "introductory" QFT book for condensed matter, it is not "easy." While it is an "introductory" QFT book for
Condensed Matter Field Theory by Alexander Altland and Ben Simons is widely considered the "gold standard" for graduate students and researchers transitioning from introductory many-body physics to the modern language of quantum field theory (QFT).
If you are serious about condensed matter theory, this book is non-negotiable. It moves beyond the "particle" view of the world and teaches you to think in terms of , which is the language of modern physics.