Finite temperature many-particle theory of condensed matter systems in the functional Schroedinger picture

A finite temperature many-particle theory of condensed matter systems is formulated using the functional Schroedinger picture. Using the interacting electron gas as a model system, we solve the equation of motion for the density matrix variationally with a Gaussian type trial density matrix. We show that the present formalism yields the finite temperature Hartree-Fock results both for the para- and ferromagnetic states in a simple and convenient fashion. Implications of the present results and future prospects are also discussed.