Advanced
Condensed Matter
Physics
PHYS 525, Fall
2008
Instructor:
Prof. M. Franz
[Henn 336, franz(at)physics(dot)ubc(dot)ca]
Course TA: Justin Malecki [jjmaleck(at)physics(dot)ubc(dot)ca]
Lectures:
Tu-Th
9:30-11:00, Earth &
Ocean Sciences - Main 113C
Office hours: Tu
13:00-14:00 and
by appointment in Henn 336
Textbook:
- “Quantum field Theory of Many-Body Systems*” by X.-G. Wen
Other useful texts (placed on
reserve in the library):
- "Physics of Quantum fields" by M. Stone
- "Quantum Many-Particle Systems" by Negele & Orland
- "Condensed Matter Field Theory" by Altland & Simons
Grades will be determined based
on biweekly assignments and the final exam (50/50).
*Also available from amazon.ca
for $55.50 with free shipping.
Course
anouncements:
- Effective Sept. 11
lectures are held in Henn. 318. If that room
happens to be occupied
we move to
Henn. 309.
- Effective Oct. 14
lectures
are held in Henn. 304. If that room happens to be occupied we move to
Henn. 309.
- The final exam is scheduled
for December 3, 2pm
(location tba). The exam will consist of a short in-class part and a 48
hour take-home part.
Assignments:
- [20 points] Please read the following two classic essays by the
Nobel Prize wining theorists: "More
is different" by P.W. Anderson and "Fractional quantization" by
R.B. Laughlin. In each paper select and list 3 ideas that
you found most interesting or surprising. Hand in the list on Sept. 9 during the
first lecture. [This
assignment is graded pass/fail with `pass' awarded for any sensible
list showing evidence that you actually read and thought about these
papers. In Laughlin's paper you should focus on the big picture; do not
worry if you don't get some of the technical details on first reading.
- Problems 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.1.7, 2.2.1,
2.2.2 from the textbook. Due on
Sept 23. [Solutions.]
- Problems 2.2.3, 2.2.5, 2.2.7, 2.3.3,
2.3.6 from the textbook. Due on
Oct 2. [Solutions.]
- Problems 2.4.1, 3.3.1, 3.3.3 from
the textbook. Due on Oct 16. [Solutions.]
- Problems 3.3.5, 3.3.6, 3.4.1 from
the textbook. Due on Oct 30. [Solutions.]
- Problems 4.2.5, 4.2.6, 4.3.1 from
the textbook. Due on Nov13. [Solutions.]
Final
exam:
Take home (click here).
Please note: Working out the assignments is perhaps the single most
important aspect
of this course, absolutely essential for understanding the material. In order to receive credit assignment
must be handed in by the end of the lecture on the due date. If
you foresee a serious conflict that might prevent you from completing
the problems by the due date please let me know ahead of time. I will consider
extending the due date if the conflict affects several students in the
class. In fairness to other students who completed assignment on
time last minute requests for extension will not be granted.
Course
outline:
This course will provide a systematic introduction to some of the
modern topics in condensed matter physics. These are useful to
know for any physicist but truly indispensable for a CM theorist and
include:
- “More is different” philosophy
- Path-integral formulation of QM
- Quantum Spin Systems
- Interacting boson and Fermion systems
- Broken symmetry states
- Quantum Hall liquids
- Elements of quantum gauge theories
- Topological order.
The emphasis will be on the physical concepts with minimum time spent
on the formalism. This is also the spirit of Wen's book, which focuses
on physics and develops mathematical formalism mainly through examples
motivated by experimental facts. In addition, unlike many other books
at this level, Wen’s book contains many examples worked out in great
detail as well as a good collection of problems.
Although PHYS 503 is listed as a formal prerequisite for this course I
intend to make the presentation self-contained and am willing to waive
that requirement for students with reasonable background in CM theory.