Physics track core course

The course is intended to introduce to provide the high-level overview of main research directions and ideas in the modern fields of quantum and soft matter physics. In addition, for some students the course can be a refresher of theoretical notion/concepts that are directly relevant to their research.

The course will consist of three parts, concentrated on:
(I) Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) physics taught by M. Lemeshko
(II) Condensed matter physics taught by M. Serbyn
(III) Soft Matter/Biophysics taught by E. Hannezo

The detailed curriculum is provided below:

(I) AMO component will introduce the basics of atomic and molecular structure, interactions of quantum particles with electromagnetic fields, as well as the basics of atomic cooling and trapping.
(II) Condensed matter component will introduce the basics of electron theory in metals, including the band structures, effects of interactions, and phonons. Particular emphasis will be paid to topics of high current interest, including topological effect in solids.
(III) Soft matter component will introduce the basics of disordered solids/jamming, colloidal physics, active matter and biophysics, with an emphasis on current research topics.
AMO curriculum:

1. Structure of atoms and molecules
2. Atoms and molecules in electromagnetic fields
3. Taming the motion of quantum particles: cooling and trapping
4. Bose-Einstein condensation and superfluidity

Condensed matter curriculum:

1. Free electrons: crystalline lattices, band structure
2. Spin-orbit coupling, topological effects in solids
3. Electrons in magnetic fields: semiclassic equations of motion, magneto-oscillations
4. Topological insulators and basics of theory of localization

Soft matter curriculum:

1. From crystals to disordered solids
2. Colloidal physics and fluctuation/dissipation theorem
3. Active matter: flocking, giant fluctuations, activity-induced phase separation
4. From liquid crystals to active nemat

Target group: First year graduate students who plan to do research in soft, quantum experimental or theoretical physics.

Prerequisites: The basic prerequisites for taking the course include the knowledge of undergraduate statistical physics, Electricity and Magnetism (basic graduate/MS level, Jackson's “Classical Electrodynamics” or Landau&Lifshits “The Classical Theory of Fields”) along with the Quantum mechanics (basic graduate/MS level, e.g. Griffiths “Introduction to Quantum Mechanics”), and second quantization.

Evaluation: Attendance and participation make 50% of the grade. There will be 9 problem sets (three for each module) that make up for remaining 50% of the grade. Typically the problem sets will be due one week after release date. One of the problem sets (with the worst grade or missed one) is excluded from counting

Teaching format: combined presentation/blackboard format.

ECTS: 6 Year: 2020

Track segment(s):
PHY-CORE Physics - track core course

Teacher(s):
Edouard Hannezo Mikhail Lemeshko Maksym Serbyn

Teaching assistant(s):

If you want to enroll to this course, please click: REGISTER