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Many-Body Physics

Module PH2234

This module handbook serves to describe contents, learning outcome, methods and examination type as well as linking to current dates for courses and module examination in the respective sections.

Basic Information

PH2234 is a semester module in German or English language at Master’s level which is offered in summer semester.

If not stated otherwise for export to a non-physics program the student workload is given in the following table.

Total workloadContact hoursCredits (ECTS)
150 h 75 h 5 CP

Responsible coordinator of the module PH2234 is Michael Knap.

Content, Learning Outcome and Preconditions

Content

This course provides a modern introduction to many-body physics. It covers basic theoretical methods and their application to various problems of condensed matter theory, such as the interacting electron gas, phonons in solids, quantum magnetism, and superconductivity. Throughout the class relations between experiments and theory will be emphasized. This course will provide students the basic knowledge to follow state-of-the-art research in condensed matter physics and to be able to start their independent research project in that field.

Outline of lectures:
1. Introduction to many-body physics
2. From particles to fields: a route to second quantization
3. Green's functions and their properties
4. Many-body perturbation theory and Feynman path integrals
5. Broken symmetries and collective phenomena
6. Fermi-Liquid theory and the concept of quasi-particles
7. Response functions: a crash course on describing modern experimental techniques
8. Quantum phase transitions

The practical classes support the lectures with tutorials and problem sets. The tutorials provide complementary perspectives  and the problem sets will help to understand and deepen the physical concepts presented in the lecture.

Learning Outcome

This course will provide students the basic knowledge to follow state-of-the-art research in condensed matter physics and to be able to start their independent research project in that field.

Preconditions

No preconditions in addition to the requirements for the Master’s program in Physics.

Courses, Learning and Teaching Methods and Literature

Courses and Schedule

TypeSWSTitleLecturer(s)DatesLinks
VU 4 Many-Body Physics Knap, M. Mon, 10:00–12:00, ZNN 0.001
and dates in groups

Learning and Teaching Methods

no info

Media

no info

Literature

A. Altland, B. Simons: "Condensed Matter Field Theory"
A. L. Fetter, J. D. Walecka: “Quantum theory of many-particle systems”

Module Exam

Description of exams and course work

Problem sets (50%) and final project (50%). Final projects extend the covered material and will be presented at the end of the semester.

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