PHYM003 | 2023 | University of Exeter

MODULE TITLE	Condensed Matter II	CREDIT VALUE	15
MODULE CODE	PHYM003	MODULE CONVENER	Prof Saverio Russo (Coordinator)

DURATION: TERM	1	2	3
DURATION: WEEKS		11

Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated)	76

DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

The module will apply much of the core physics covered in PHY2021, PHY2024, and PHY3051 to novel systems and engage with fundamental electric, magnetic and optical phenomena in metals and dielectrics. The module illustrates and draws on research undertaken in the Department: studies of the metal-to-insulator transition, oscillatory effects in strong magnetic fields, optical and magnetic phenomena.

AIMS - intentions of the module

The module aims to develop understanding of effects that played a key role in the development of contemporary solid state physics and to provide a general description of its current trends. The different topics covered will be linked by the idea that electrons in solids can be treated as quasi-particles interacting with other quasi-particles: electrons, phonons, photons. In addition to electrons, other excitations in solids are considered, e.g. Cooper pairs, plasmons and polaritons.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

A student who has passed this module should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1. develop the concept of energy bands in the tight-binding approximation and compare the outcome of this methodology with the nearly-free electron model described in PHY2024;

2. explain how the conducting properties of metals are affected by disorder and electron-electron interactions, and describe the types of the metal-to-insulator transition;

3. explain the significance of complex Fermi surfaces for transport properties of metals and how the shape of the Fermi surface can be mapped using oscillatory effects;

4. develop classical and quantum mechanical descriptions of the electron motion in electric and magnetic fields, Hall and magnetoresistive effects;

5. explain characteristic features of superconductors and the origin of superconductivity;

6. explain how interaction effects modify the properties of quaisi-paricles in solids and descripe the origin of different excitations: plasmon, polariton, polaron, exciton and magnon;

7. explain the origin of the fundamental magnetic phenomena and the basic models in their description;

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

8. apply core physics to the solution of problems involving unfamiliar systems;

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:

9. use spatial reasoning to derive qualitative solutions to problems;

10. manage the own work.

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

I. Electrons in Solids

Calculations of Band Stucture
- Tight-binding
- Comparison of tight-binding with the nearly-free electron model
- Brief introduction to other methods, e.g. LCAO, Pseudo-potentials, LMTO, LAPW
Fermi Surface and Electron Dynamics in Metals.
- Construction of the Fermi surface and Fermi surfaces of some metals.
- Semiclassical model of electron dynamics. Electron motion in crossed magnetic and electric fields.
- Hall effect and magnetoresistance.
- Landau quantisation of the electron spectrum.
- Shubnikov-de Haas and de Haas-van Alphen effects, experimental conditions for their observation.
- Mapping of the Fermi surface in three-dimensional metals.
- Metal-to-insulator transition in three- and two-dimensional metals. Current situation in the field.
- Electron-electron interaction in metals: Fermi liquid
Superconductivity
- Difference between 'ideal' metal and superconductor. Specific features of magnetic, thermal and optical properties of superconductors.
- Isotope effect. The concept of the Cooper pair and the outline of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory.
- Josephson effects. High-temperature superconductivity.

II. Electrons, Phonons and Photons

Dispersion relation for electromagnetic waves in solids and the dielectric function of the electron gas.
Plasma optics and plasmons.
Dielectic function and electrostatic screening. Screened Coulomb potential.
Phonon-photon interaction: polaritons.
Electron-phonon interaction: polarons.
Interband transitions
Electron-hole interaction: excitons.
Raman Spectra

III. Quasiparticles in Low-dimensional Solids

Excitons, plasmons, polarons, and polaritons
Graphene

IV. Magnetic Properties of Solids

Ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism.
Spin waves and magnons.
Giant magneto-resistance.

LEARNING AND TEACHING

LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities	22	Guided Independent Study	128	Placement / Study Abroad

DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning & teaching activities	20 hours	20×1-hour lectures
Scheduled learning & teaching activities	2 hours	2×1-hour problems/revision classes
Guided independent study	30 hours	5×6-hour self-study packages
Guided independent study	16 hours	4×4-hour problem sets
Guided independent study	82 hours	Reading, private study and revision

ASSESSMENT

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade

Form of Assessment	Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length)	ILOs Assessed	Feedback Method
Guided self-study (0%)	5×6-hour packages (fortnightly)	1-10	Discussion in class
4 × Problems sets (0%)	4 hours per set (fortnightly)	1-10	Solutions discussed in problems classes.

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)

Coursework	0	Written Exams	100	Practical Exams

DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Form of Assessment	% of Credit	Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length)	ILOs Assessed	Feedback Method
Final Examination	100%	2 hours 30 minutes (May/June)	1-10	Mark via MyExeter, collective feedback via ELE and solutions.

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)

Original Form of Assessment	Form of Re-assessment	ILOs Re-assessed	Time Scale for Re-assessment
Whole module	Written examination (100%)	1-8	August/September assessment period

Re-assessment is not available except when required by referral or deferral.

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

An original assessment that is based on both examination and coursework, tests, etc., is considered as a single element for the purpose of referral; i.e., the referred mark is based on the referred examination only, discounting all previous marks. In the event that the mark for a referred assessment is lower than that of the original assessment, the original higher mark will be retained.

Physics Modules with PHY Codes

Referred examinations will only be available in PHY3064, PHYM004 and those other modules for which the original assessment includes an examination component - this information is given in individual module descriptors.

RESOURCES

INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

ELE:

http://newton.ex.ac.uk/redirects/ELE/phym003

Reading list for this module:

Type	Author	Title	Edition	Publisher	Year	ISBN
Set	Kittel, C.	Introduction to Solid State Physics	8th edition	Wiley	2005	978-0-471-41526-8
Extended	Ashcroft, N.W. and N. D. Mermin	Solid State Physics		Holt-Saunders	1976	0-03-083993-9
Extended	Burns, G.	Solid State Physics		Academic Press	1985	0-12-146070-3
Extended	Hook, J.R. and H. E. Hall	Solid State Physics	2nd edition	Wiley	1991	0-471-928054

CREDIT VALUE	15	ECTS VALUE	7.5

PRE-REQUISITE MODULES	PHY2024, PHY3051, PHYM001
CO-REQUISITE MODULES

NQF LEVEL (FHEQ)	7	AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING	No
ORIGIN DATE	Thursday 15th December 2011	LAST REVISION DATE	Thursday 26th January 2023

KEY WORDS SEARCH	Physics; Placeholder; Main; Topic placeholder; Specific; Option level; Level; Theory; Specific skill; Option

Condensed Matter II - 2023 entry