Advanced Condensed Matter Physics

Code:

F504

Acronym:

F504

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Physics

Instance: 2013/2014 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Physics and Astronomy
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Physics

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:F	15	Plano de Estudos do Mestrado em Física	1	-	7,5	-

Teaching language

English

Objectives

1- Developing the habilities for understanding  structure, thermodynamics, optics, electric, magnetic and transport properties properties of matter; 2- developing the knowledge and habilities to strengthen the research and development activities, nominally, to facilitate reading and understanding the literature in the field.

Learning outcomes and competences

Demonstrate ability to understand concepts, models and theories of Condensed Matter Physics, by solving problems that engage reasoning, relating  of concepts and simple generalizations of the  models studied.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Statistical Physics, Quantum mechanics, prior course in Condensed Matter physics recommended

Program

1. ELECTRONIC PROPERTIES

Translational symmetry and Bloch`s theorem

Implications of Bloch`s theorem (Crystal momentum, Brillouin zones, van Hove Singularities, effective mass)

Brief notes on the importance of rotational symmetry

Two extreme models: nearly free and tightly bound electrons

The Wannier functions

The semiclassical model of electron dynamics

Semiclassical motion in electric and magnetic fields; Hall effect and magnetoresistance

The Schrödinger equation with electrical and magnetic fields (Franz-Keldysh effect, Landau levels, the Shubnikov-de Haas effect, integer quantum Hall effect, the Aharonov-Bohm effect )

Electron-electron interactions (Hartree, Hartree-Fock; screening; the dielectric function in the Thomas-Fermi approximation; The Landau arguments for the success of the independent electron approximation).

2. MAGNETIC PROPERTIES

Diamagnetic and paramagnetic response of isolated magnetic moments

Semiclassical treatment of paramagnetism; the Brillouin function; van Vleck paramagnetism; classical limit (Langevin)

The ground state of an ion and Hund`s rules.

Crystals: rare earths and transition metals; orbital quenching.

Magnetic dipolar and exchange interactions.

Weiss model of a ferromagnet and an antiferromagnet

Ising and Heisenberg models

Excitations: magnons, the Bloch T3/2 law and the Mermin-Wagner-Berezinnskii theorem.

3. DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF INSULATORS

Linear dielectric response and causality: Kramers-Kronig relations; consequences of causality to the complex dielectric function.

Theory of local field, polarizability and Clausius-Mossotti relation.

Long-wavelength optical modes in ionic crystals and Reststrahlen.

Dielectric relaxation: dipole in an electric field; Debye model and its limitation. Empirical extensions of the model (Cole-Cole, Cole Davidson, Havriliak-Negami)

Structural phase transitions and the concept of order parameter.

Landau theory and symmetry; ferroelectricity antiferroelectricity piezoelectricity and feroelectricity.

The concept of ferroic material; multiferroic and magnetoelectric materials

4. SUPERCONDUCTIVITY

Basic phenomenology: perfect conductivity, perfect diamagnetism; the Meissner-Ochsenfeld effect and the reversibility of the phase transition.

Magnetic and thermal properties; the Gorter-Casimir two-fluid model

The London equations for a superconductor; trapped and quantized flux

Pippard non-local theory

Ginzburg-Landau phenomenological theory

Type II superconductors

Isotope effect and the energy gap

Microscopic mechanisms of conventional (BCS) superconductivity

 

Mandatory literature

Neil W. Ashcroft and David N. Mermin; solid state physics, Brooks Cole, 1986. ISBN: 0030839939
Michael P. Marder; Condensed Matter Physics, Wiley, 2010. ISBN: 0470617985
Annett James F.; Superconductivity, superfluids, and condensates. ISBN: 0-19-850756-9
Blundell Stephen; Magnetism in condensed matter. ISBN: 0-19-850591-4
Singleton John; Band theory and electronic properties of solids. ISBN: 0-19-850644-9

Complementary Bibliography

Kittel Charles; Introduction to solid state physics

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures ; problem sessions.

keywords

Physical sciences

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	146,00
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Total:	202,00

Eligibility for exams

No requirements

Calculation formula of final grade

Examination grade

Examinations or Special Assignments

n/a

Internship work/project

n/a

Classification improvement

According  to art. 12º of FCUP regulations of student evaluation