The goal of this course is to introduce the students to the basic concepts in Condensed Matter Physics and to help them to learn to read and understand research papers. Being complimentary to the Physics Core course (Maksym/Misha), the focus of this course on the aspects of interacting systems. The tentative list of subjects intended to be covered is as follows: The concept of mean-field approximation; Landau theory of phase transitions; Fermi-liquid theory; Superfluidity; Superconductivity; Magnetism; Mott insulators; Selected topics in topological materials.

Target group: Graduate students intending to pursue research in experimental “hard” condensed matter.

Prerequisites: Undergraduate quantum mechanics, some exposure to Solid State physics (e.g. the Physics Core course offered by Maksym and Misha this Spring).

Evaluation: The grades will be assigned based on the presentations made by the students.

Teaching format: Lectures during the first approximately 2/3 of the course, then in the last 4 weeks students will be asked to present in a seminar format the assigned research papers that illustrate the material covered in the course of the course (2-3 papers per student).

ECTS: 6 Year: 2020

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

Teacher(s):
Zhanybek Alpichshev

Teaching assistant(s):

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