Second-quantization representation and diagrammatic technique for systems of composite particles

A second quantization formalism for systems of interacting free elementary particles and their bound clusters is presented. A modified version of the Feynman-Goldstone diagrammatic technique is used for the classification and evaluation of individual terms appearing in this formalism. The resulting effective Hamiltonian naturally includes such processes as Coulomb and exchange interactions between bound composite particles, their breakup and recombination reactions, etc. For simplicity, a system of hydrogen atoms, protons, and electrons is studied. The method can easily be generalized to any species of composite particles. (author)