Email: balents@kitp.ucsb.edu
Phone: 893-6381
Thursdays, 2-3pm, in KITP (Kohn Hall), Room 2315
This course is the second quarter of condensed matter physics. We will cover more advanced topics, including the notion of topological insulators, and subjects, such as magnetism and superconductivity, which go beyond band theory.
We will use various reference texts. Hopefully there will be no need to purchase an expensive book.
Physics 223a or equivalent. Knowledge of basic statistical mechanics, and quantum mechanics at a graduate level.
You are expected to complete the reading in advance of the specified lecture.
| Lecture | Topic | Reading | Homework assigned | Homework due |
| 1 - 1/6/14 | Overview. How much do you know? | |||
| 2 - 1/8/14 | Topological insulators, QHE, band inversion | BHZ article | ||
| 3 - 1/13/14 | 2d TIs | see TI review articles above | ||
| 4 - 1/15/14 | 3d TIs | see TI review articles above | homework 1 assigned | Due 10am, Friday, 1/24/14 solution |
| 1/20/14 | Holiday - MLK day | reading | ||
| 5 - 1/22/14 | Magnetism - atomic origins | Solyom, vol. I, p. 39-60 | homework 2 assigned | Due 10am, Friday, 1/31/14 solution |
| 6 - 1/27/14 | Hunds rules, signatures of local moments, exchange interactions | Solyom, vol. I, Section 14.2 (but this is not great) | ||
| 7 - 1/29/14 | Mean field theory, magnetic phase transition | Solyom, vol. I, p. 473-487 | homework 3 assigned | Due 10am, Tuesday, 2/11/14 solution |
| 8 - 2/3/14 | Quantum ground state and spin waves | Solyom, vol. I, p. 521-529 | ||
| 9 - 2/5/14 | Quantum antiferromagnets and their spin waves | Solyom, vol. I, p. 530-531 and p. 540-545 | ||
| 10 - 2/10/14 | Finish QAFs, Magnetism in conductors | reading | ||
| 11 - 2/12/14 | Guest lecture: spin liquids | reading | ||
| 2/17/14 | Holiday - President's Day | |||
| 12 - 2/19/14 | Superfluidity: BEC and macroscopic phase | watch this old video | homework 4 assigned | Due 10am, Friday, 2/21/14. solution |
| 13 - 2/24/14 | Finish superfluidity. Superconductivity - phenomenological theory | Solyom, vol. II, Chapt. 26 | ||
| 14 - 2/26/14 | Ginzburg-Landau theory | Same. | ||
| 15 - 3/3/14 | Vortices. Start BCS theory | Solyom, vol. III, Chapter 34 | homework 5 assigned | Due 3/12 in class or by email solution |
| 16 - 3/5/14 | More BCS | keep reading Solyom | ||
| 17 - 3/10/14 | Consequences of BCS. Joshephson effect. | Solyom, vol. II, p. 501-515 | ||
| 18 - 3/12/14 | Joshephson effect. Exam prep. | FINAL EXAM!!! assigned |
Grades to be based on homeworks and final exam, 50/50, with generous curved grading
All homework to be submitted to my mailbox in Kohn Hall or electronically by email