Particles with fractional statistics interpolating between
bosons and fermions have attracted considerable interest
from mathematical physicists. In recent years it has emerged
that these so-called anyons have rather unexpected
applications, such as the fractional Hall effect, anyonic
excitations in films of liquid helium, and high-temrperature
superconductivity. Furthermore, they are discussed also in
the context of conformal field theories.
This book is a systematic and pedagogical introduction that
considers the subject of anyons from many different points
of view. In particular, the author presents the relation of
anyons to braid groups and Chern-Simons field theory and
devotes three chapters to physical applications. The book,
while being of interest to researchers, primarily addresses
advanced students of mathematics and physics.