Entry requirements

120 credits with Statistical Mechanics.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to understand and explain the use of advanced techniques in statistical mechanics. This includes:

1. The use of partition functions and their relation to path integrals.

2. The concept of phase transitions in simple models as well as the physics at or near critical points.

3. The renormalisation group and the flow to infrared fixed points.

4. Landau's Fermi-liquid theory.

5. BCS superconductivity

Content

This course is intended as a continuing course in statistical physics where concepts from quantum field theory are applied. No advanced knowledge of quantum field theory is assumed. The course contents include: partition functions for several statistical mechanical models; models described by an interacting scalar field theory; Matsubara frequencies and finite temperature; critical points; spontaneous symmetry breaking and phase transitions; Landau Fermi liquid theory; BCS theory of superconductivity.

Topics may vary.

Instruction

Lectures

Assessment

Written exam at the end of the course and/or hand in assignments during the course.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.