Syllabus for Solid State Physics II

Learning outcomes

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

• Understand the relation between the electron structure of crystalline solids and their dielectric, magnetic and superconducting properties,
• Understand and use some standard models for calculations of polarisation, magnetisation and superconductivity in solids.

Content

Magnetic properties: Quantum theory of dia- and paramagnetism, exchange interaction, magnetic order: ferro, ferri- and antiferromagnetism, magnons, anisotropy and domains, soft and hard ferromagnetic materials.

Dielectric properties: Sources of polarisation, electric fields inside dielectrics, depolarisation, microscopic theories of polarisation.

Superconductivity: Phenomenological description, BCS theory, thermodynamics, London equation, thin films, type I and type II superconductors, flux quantisation, electron tunnelling, Josephson effect.

Instruction

Lectures, lessons and laboratory work.

Assessment

Written examination (4 credits). Laboratory course (1 credit).

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.