PH4044 Advanced Condensed Matter Physics

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Curricular information may be subject to change

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Available only to students on a programme in the School of Physics & Astronomy.

Module Staff

TBC

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

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.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE PH3061 AND ( TAKE PH3080 OR TAKE PH3082 ) AND TAKE PH4039

Assessment pattern

Oral Examination = 30%, Coursework (computing project - 40%, Journal Club presentation 30%) = 70%

Re-assessment

Oral Examination = 100% -Re-Aassessment grade capped at 7

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3 lectures or tutorials (x 11 weeks), 1 computing hour

Scheduled learning hours

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

108

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Additional information from school

PH4044 – Advanced Condensed Matter Physics

Aims & Objectives

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.

Learning Outcomes

an understanding of the topics covered in the module
acquiring a variety of problem solving techniques that are used in modern research
an understanding of advanced phenomena in solid state physics
undertaking a literature search
basic skills in numerical modelling of physics problems
using a numerical model to understand the physics of a particular problem

Synopsis

There will be 4 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.

second quantization, tight-binding model, band theory
electronic transport, p-n junctions
diode, LED, solar cell
Mott insulators, Mott-Hubbard Hamiltonian, origin of magnetic Hamiltonians
itinerant versus localised description of magnetism, mean field theory of magnetic order
Landau theory of magnetic phase transitions
superconductivity, London equation
Ginzburg-Landau theory, BCS theory
superconducting gap, isotope effect

Additional information on continuous assessment etc.

Recommended Books

Please view University online record:

http://resourcelists.st-andrews.ac.uk/modules/ph4044.html

General information

Please also read the general information in the School's honours handbook that is available https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/physics-astronomy/students/ug/timetables-handbooks/ .