The Memory Function Formalism: A Review

Abstract: An introduction to the Zwanzig-Mori-G\"{o}tze-W\"{o}lfle memory function formalism (or generalized Drude formalism) is presented. This formalism is used extensively in analyzing the experimentally obtained optical conductivity of strongly correlated systems like cuprates and Iron based superconductors etc. For a broader perspective both the generalised Langevin equation approach and the projection operator approach for the memory function formalism are given. The G\"{o}tze-W\"{o}lfle perturbative expansion of memory function is presented and its application to the computation of the dynamical conductivity of metals is also reviewd. This review of the formalism contains all the mathematical details for pedagogical purposes.