Entry requirements

120 credits and Quantum Materials I. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• perform quantum field theoretical studies, analyses, and calculations pertaining to condensed matter,
• present and apply theoretical condensed matter models and evaluate their applicability under various conditions,
• assess and apply second quantization formalism in formulations of condensed matter models in relation to realistic experimental set-ups,
• recognise and account for differences between single and many particle models

Content

Quantum field theoretical methods: Second quantization, field operators, creation and annihilation operators, quantum statistics for Fermions and Bosons. Quantum statistical methods: Formulation of partition function, free energy, internal energy, entropy, specific heat, average occupation numbers for free particles, dimensionality of density of particle states. Semi-classical description of Landau Fermi liquid and Boltzmann transport equation. Scattering theory and Landauer transport formalism. Conductance measurements in one- and two-dimensional materials. Tight-binding models. Experiments probing the band structure of quantum materials. Beyond single-particle models, derivation of the Hartree and Hartree-Fock approximations, introduction of exchange, introduction of phonons and derivation of electron-phonon coupling. Superconductivity.

Instruction

Lectures, tutorials, and laboratory exercises.

Assessment

Home assignments and oral examination in the form of a seminar.

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.