Re: Advanced Condensed Matter Physics Pdf Download
Tabatha Pasqua
This module builds on concepts taught in Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics (PH4039) to introduce more advanced theoretical concepts and lay the foundations required to understand the challenges in current research in condensed matter physics. Topics covered in this module include advanced techniques for band-structure determination, superconductivity and magnetism as well as the physics of semiconductor electronics. The module will further prepare students for more independent learning. The module will be 100% continuously assessed, including a journal club presentation, problem sheets and computational problems to serve as an introduction to advanced modelling and data analysis in condensed matter physics.
This module lays the foundations required to understand the challenges in current research in condensed matter physics. Topics covered in this module include advanced techniques for band-structure determination, superconductivity and magnetism as well as the physics of semiconductor electronics.
There will be 4 whole class tutorials and 27 lectures. The lectures will cover the following topics, each bullet point corresponds roughly to 3 lectures. They will be accompanied by computational problems designed to explore the physics discussed in class numerically.
There are no formal pre-requisites for this module, although we expect students taking this module to have background knowledge equivalent to the content of the following modules: 5CCP2242 Quantum Mechanics I; 6CCP3221 Quantum Mechanics II and 6CCP3402 Solid State Physics.
Applications will include basic insight into transport properties, spectroscopies (e.g., photoemission, optics, neutrons), elements of the physics of the Hubbard model, connections with materials such as graphene and transition-metal oxides, phenomena such as the Mott metal-insulator transition, screening effects and collective excitations, and elements of (conventional) superconductivity.
After successfully completing this module, students will have a deep and systematic understanding of the basic approaches to understand electronic properties of materials. Students will be equipped to engage with research based knowledge at the forefront of this field. Students will have a comprehensive understanding of the basic techniques and methodology relevant for quantum condensed matter physics (tight binding and Hamiltonian representation, Green's function, mean-field theory, density functional theory) applicable to their own work.
Upon completion of the course students should be able, with critical awareness, to undertake analysis of complex, incomplete or contradictory areas of knowledge related to electronic properties of materials and communicate the outcome of such analysis effectively. Students will be able to synthesize information in a manner that may be innovative, utilising knowledge and techniques from the forefront of research.
Students will be able to use a range of learning resources and will be able to apply the acquired skills to undertake innovative research tasks with some guidance. They will be independent and self-critical learners, will be able to communicate topics of condensed matter physics clearly and effectively to specialists/non-specialists and to manage their own continuing professional development.
Students will be able to critically use the learned techniques to analyse and comprehend condensed matter systems. Students will be able to operate in complex and specialised contexts that may be at the forefront of knowledge.
This graduate-level class will provide an introduction to the physical principles underlying superconducting qubits. We will discuss (A) the physics of superconductivity and the Josephson effect, "requantization" of the phase of the order parameter, and all the qubits all this leads to: the Cooper pair box, flux qubit, transmon, etc. (B) sources of decoherence, T1 and T2 processes, and mechanisms for mitigating decoherence. The class will be taught as an advanced seminar with student participation. Depending on enrollment, evaluation will be based on presentations and/or term papers. The class will try and avoid the formalism of many body theory and other advanced theoretical techniques as much as possible.
Prerequisites: A sound understanding of quantum mechanics including elementary perturbation theory. An undergraduate course in solid state physics will help but is not essential.
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What are some good condensed matter physics books that can fill the gap between Ashcroft & Mermin and research papers? Suggestions for any specialized topics (such as superconductivity, CFT, topological insulators) are welcomed.
"Fundamentals of Condensed Matter Physics", Marvin L. Cohen & Steven G. Louie.
A much-needed textbook that gives credit both to the traditional view of the field and the modern view based on excitations. Thus, it is not only focused on many-body theory but serves as a first contact.
"Basic Aspects of the Quantum Theory of Solids: Order and excitations", Daniel I. Khomskii.
Fills the gap between the foundations and present-day solid state theory using as the main theme two concepts: order and excitations. Slick and more accessible than others. As stated in the preface the purpose of this book is attending exactly the needs of the OP.
"Modern Condensed Matter Physics", Steven M. Girvin and Kun Yang.
Covers material from the level of Ashcroft and Mermin up through Anderson localization, the quantum Hall effect, spin liquids, topological insulators, superconductivity, etc. Second quantization for fermions is avoided until about 3/4 of the way through the book in order to keep the level accessible to beginning students.
"Introduction to Many-Body Physics", P. Coleman.
An amazing treatise on introductory and not so introductory many-body physics applied to condensed matter theory. In addition it provides historical facts and uses plenty of figures to illustrate concepts and experimental results. More updated than others.
"Advanced Solid State Physics", Philip Phillips.
"For an up-to-date perspective on solid state physics from a many-body physics perspective, may I refer you to this book" by P. Coleman in Introduction to Many-Body Physics.
"Many-Particle Physics", G. D. Mahan.
A good introduction, it covers lots of topics although notation is a bit old-fashioned. Some chapters are not very good (skip the quantum Hall effect chapter!).
"Composite Fermions", J. K. Jain.
The first chapters are a good overview of quantum Hall effects. Also it is obviously biased towards Jain's theory of composite fermions (as its title reflects!) and so full of hand-waving arguments to try to justify it.
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The book by Mattuck is a friendly, carefuly, and labored exposition to many-body theory. Beginning with the ideas of a random walk, the impurity problem, the author describes "dressing" of charge (renormalization) in a background, and spends time introducing momentum space and the Fourier transform. Then Feynman diagrams are introduced first as tree graphs (the ladder diagram for the impurity problem), and the book teaches the organization of different kinds of graphs once loops are introduced. The concept of self-energy in both coordinate and momentum space are developed thereafter. Then the author switches gears to full-blown second quantized formalism with and without spin.
Many-body theory courses can often be the first time students are introduced to quantum field theory. As a graduate student in high-energy physics with background in condensed matter/solid state physics, I can say that high-energy versions of QFT courses do not usually focus on applications of QFT outside scattering cross-section calculations, and it is important (even for high-energy theorists in my opinion) to know what to do with QFT as a general tool. There aren't very many books on QFT which do not convert you completely into the high-energy or the cond-mat camp. That's why books like this one are useful in shaping your holistic understanding of QFT.
Personally, I found that after I was a bit unsure of what I studied something from Altland and Simons or Fetter and Walecka, I was clearer about it after reading the corresponding sections from Mattuck's book.
As for books on QFT in condensed matter physics, besides Altland, Field Theories of Condensed Matter Physics by Fradkin is also excellent. It covers a lot of cutting-edge topics, including entanglement entropy/spectrum.
Condensed matter is relevant to everyday life in many ways, as it encompasses the study of materials such as metals, plastics, and ceramics that are used in a variety of industries and technologies. Understanding the properties of these materials can lead to advancements in fields such as electronics, energy production, and medicine.
The main difference between solid and liquid condensed matter is the arrangement of particles. In a solid, the particles are tightly packed and have a fixed position, whereas in a liquid, the particles are more loosely arranged and can move around. This results in different physical properties, such as rigidity and flow.
Some current research topics in condensed matter physics include the study of quantum materials, topological insulators, and superconductivity. Other areas of interest include nanoscience, soft matter, and complex systems.
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