In this thesis we describe a novel perturbative approach to low-dimensional quantum many-particle systems, which is based on continuous unitary transformations. We consider systems, which are defined on a lattice and allow a perturbative decomposition. The unperturbed part must have an equidistant spectrum -- the difference between two successive levels is called a quasi-particle. In this case the perturbative transformation leads to an effective Hamiltonian, which conserves the number of particles. The same transformation is used to also derive the effective counterparts of other, experimentally relevant observables. The effective operators are obtained as series expansions in the (small) perturbation parameter. In each order we find a set of products of ladder-operators, which act on states uniquely defined by the number of quasi-particles and their position in the lattice. Thus all calculations can be done in real space. The mathematical structure of the effective operators is extensively analysed. We additionally give all details necessary to implement the method on a computer, which allows the calculation of the effective quantities up to high orders. The method facilitates quantitative calculations of multi-particle excitations and spectral densities of experimentally relevant observables. We include a comprehensive application of the method to the two-dimensional Shastry-Sutherland model, a strongly frustrated quantum spin system. The model has experience an experimental realization by SrCu2(BO3)2. The limit of strong dimerization serves as starting point. Here the ground state is given by singlets on all dimers -- a single triplet constitutes an elementary excitation, i.e. quasi-particle. We quantitatively calculate the one- and two-triplet energies as well as the spectral densities of the Raman and neutron scattering operators. The findings for the spectral densities in particular represent new results. Comparing them to experimental data leads to interesting insights into the spectral properties of low-dimensional quantum spin systems
