course-details-portlet

TFY4210 - Quantum Theory of Solids

About

Examination arrangement

Examination arrangement: School exam
Grade: Letter grades

Evaluation Weighting Duration Grade deviation Examination aids
School exam 100/100 4 hours C

Course content

Field quantization. Occupation number representation for nonrelativistic fermionic and bosonic many-particle systems. Interacting electron gas. Green's functions. Many-particle perturbation theory and Feynman diagrams. Lattice models for fermions and spins. The Hubbard-model and the Heisenberg-model. Spin-wave theory of ferro- and antiferromagnets. Squeezing of magnons. Electron-phonon and electron-magnon-coupling. The Cooper-problem and the BCS-theory of superconductivity.

Learning outcome

The course will give the students an elaboration and more advanced treatment of the material in the courses FY2045/TFY4250 and TFY4205. The students will obtain knowledge of key examples of field theories and lattice models for systems of interacting fermions, bosons, and spins, and learn to use relevant theoretical concepts and methods to analyze various aspects of these models.

More specifically, the students will:

  • master the use of creation and annihilation operators for fermion and boson systems;
  • master Fourier and Bogoliubov transformations for diagonalization of quadratic Hamiltonians;
  • be introduced to many-particle Green functions and how these are related to various quantities of interest;
  • get an introduction to many-particle perturbation theory, including Feynman diagrams;
  • acquire knowledge about various other methods, e.g. spin wave theory;
  • learn about key concepts, including quasiparticles, order parameters, and (broken) symmetries.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and compulsory home work problems. The course will be given in English if students on the international master program in physics are attending the course. Expected workload in the course is 225 hours.

Compulsory assignments

  • Calculation exercises

Further on evaluation

The re-sit examination (in August) may be changed from written to oral. When lectures and lecture material are in English, the exam may be given in English only.

Course materials

A. L. Fetter and J. D. Walecka: Quantum theory of many-particle systems (Dover, 2003) C. Kittel: Quantum Theory of Solids (Second Revised printing (John Wiley & Sons, 1987). These are classic textbooks that cover the basics very well. A. Sudbø: Lecture notes on Quantum theory of solids, 2020.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From To
SIF4047 7.5
FY8916 7.5 AUTUMN 2017
FY8302 7.5 AUTUMN 2021
More on the course

No

Facts

Version: 1
Credits:  7.5 SP
Study level: Second degree level

Coursework

Term no.: 1
Teaching semester:  SPRING 2025

Language of instruction: English

Location: Trondheim

Subject area(s)
  • Physics
  • Technological subjects
Contact information
Course coordinator:

Department with academic responsibility
Department of Physics

Timetable

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Calendar view

Examination

Examination arrangement: School exam

Term Status code Evaluation Weighting Examination aids Date Time Examination system Room *
Spring ORD School exam 100/100 C 2025-05-06 09:00 INSPERA
Room Building Number of candidates
SL311 lyseblå sone Sluppenvegen 14 15
Summer UTS School exam 100/100 C INSPERA
Room Building Number of candidates
  • * The location (room) for a written examination is published 3 days before examination date. If more than one room is listed, you will find your room at Studentweb.
Examination

For more information regarding registration for examination and examination procedures, see "Innsida - Exams"

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