Condensed Matter Physics

Enrollment into the program.
Positive result from qoloqia (or written exam) is necessary to enter the oral exam.

Chemical bond in solids: Van der Waals and molecular bond. Ionic bond, Madelung constant in crystals. Covalent bond: exchange interaction. Metallic binding. Hydrogen bond.
Dielectric properties of matter: Polarizability of atoms and molecules. Local electric fields of insulators. Clausius_Mossotti equation. Lattice oscillations in ionic crystals. Polaritons. Paraelectrics, piezoelectrics and ferroelectris. Phenomenological theory of structural phase transitions.
Magnetic properties of matter: Atomic susceptibility, Hund's rules. Langevin and Van Vleck paramagnetism, and Larmor diamagnetism. Ferromagnetism. Curie-Weiss law. Phase transition in mean field approximation. Critical phenomena: magnetisation, susceptibility, specific heat. Spin waves in ferromagnets. Antiferromagnetism, ferrimagnetism. Anisotropy, domain walls and hysterezis in ferromagnets.
Superconductivity: Basic properties of superconductors: ideal conductivity, Meissner effect. London equations, penetration depth, condensation energy. Coherence length. Energy gap. Cooper pairs. Microscopic theory of superconductivity. Macroscopic wave function. Quantisation of magnetic flux. Vortex lines. Superconductors of II. kind. Josephson effect, SQUID.
Mechanic properties of crystals: Point, line and surface defects. Dislocations: edge and screw dislocation. Mobility of dislocations. Plastic deformations. Mechanical properties of real materials.
Liquids: par correlation function, structure factor. Superfluidity.

C. Kittel: Introduction to Solid State Physics, (John Wiley, 1953, 2005),
N. W. Ashcroft, N. D. Mermin: Solid State Physics, (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1976),
Hall, Hook: Solid State Physics, (John Wiley, 1984),
M. P. Marder: Condensed Matter Physics (John Wiley, 2000).

Basic understanding of dielectric, magnetic and mechanical properties of matter, collective ordered states and phase transitions at low temperatures.

Knowledge and understanding:
Understanding of basic principles of properties of condensed matter, collective phenomena and phase transitions.

Application:
Achieved knowledge enables basic understanding of condensed matter properties. It represents the foundation for comprehensive study of materials and their applications in modern technology.

Reflection:
Application of theoretical foundations of quantum mechanics and statistical physics to investigate and understand properties of real materials.

Transferable skills:
Transition from theoretical physical topics towards understanding of basic properties of condensed matter and its technological applications.

Lectures, exercises, consultations

Written exam. Exam in problem solving can replace the written exam.
Oral exam
grading: 5 (fail), 6-10 (pass) (according to the Statute of UL)

1. VIDMAR, Lev, BONČA, Janez, TOHYAMA, Takami, and MAEKAWA, Sadamichi, Quantum Dynamics of a Driven Correlated System Coupled to Phonons, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 246404-1- 246404-4 (2011).
2. MIERZEJEWSKI, Marcin, BONČA, Janez, PRELOVŠEK, Peter. Integrable Mott insulators driven by a finite electric field. Phys. Rev. Lett., 107, 126601-1-126601-4, (2011).

3. MIERZEJEWSKI, Marcin, VIDMAR, Lev, BONČA, Janez, PRELOVŠEK, Peter. Nonequilibrium quantum dynamics of a charge carrier doped into a Mott insulator. Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 196401-1-196401-4 (2011).

4. VIDMAR, Lev, BONČA, Janez, MIERZEJEWSKI, Marcin, PRELOVŠEK, Peter, TRUGMAN, Stuart A. Nonequilibrium dynamics of the Holstein polaron driven by an external electric field. Phys. Rev., B 83, 134301-1-134301-7 (2011).

5. VIDMAR, Lev, BONČA, Janez, MAEKAWA, Sadamichi, TOHYAMA, Takami. Bipolaron in the t-J model coupled to longitudinal and transverse quantum lattice vibrations. Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 186401 (2009).
6. BONČA, Janez, MAEKAWA, Sadamichi, TOHYAMA, T. Numerical approach to the low-doping regime of the t-J model. Phys. Rev. B 76, 035121 (2007).