Many-Body Physics
Module PH2234
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 workload | Contact hours | Credits (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
| Type | SWS | Title | Lecturer(s) | Dates | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VU | 4 | Many-Body Physics | Knap, M. |
Mon, 10:00–12:00, ZNN 0.001 and dates in groups |
Learning and Teaching Methods
Media
Literature
A. Altland, B. Simons: "Condensed Matter Field Theory"
A. L. Fetter, J. D. Walecka: “Quantum theory of many-particle systems”