This syllabus is valid: 2008-09-01
and until further notice
Course code: 5FY077
Credit points: 7.5
Education level: Second cycle
Main Field of Study and progress level:
Physics: Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Grading scale: TH teknisk betygsskala
Responsible department: Department of Physics
Contents
The aim of the course is to give an introduction to modern topics in statistical and condensed matter physics and to make the student familiar with important concepts such as order parameters, correlation, scaling, and universality. A large portion of the course will be spent studying phase transitions and critical phenomena; topics such as interfaces, Ising model and superfluidity will be covered as well. Topics covered: review of thermodynamics and ensembles, mean field and Landau theory, Ising model, Landau theory, Landau-Ginzburg theory, multicomponent order parameters, dense gases and liquids, virial expansion, pair correlation function, inhomogeneous liquids, critical phenomena, 2D-Ising model, series expansions, scaling, universality, Kosterlitz-Thouless transition, the renormalization group, quantum fluids, Bose-Einstein condensation, BCS-theory.
Required Knowledge
A first course in Statistical Physics and in Quantum Mechanics, or equivalent.
Literature
Valid from:
2011 week 2
Equilibrium statistical physics Plischke Michael, Bergersen Birger 3. ed. : Singapore : World Scientific : cop. 2006 : xvi, 620 s. : ISBN: 981-256-048-3 Mandatory Search the University Library catalogue
