Credits: 5

Schedule: 08.01.2019 - 09.04.2019

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation): 

Vladimir Eltsov

E-mail: vladimir.eltsov@aalto.fi

Office: Nanotalo, room 178c

Teaching Period (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

I, II, III, IV, V Autumn & Spring (2018-2019, 2019-2020)

The course consists of three (self-consistent) sections:

Theory of Superconductivity: III-IV (Spring) 2019, Vladimir Eltsov

Nanoelectronics:  I-II (Autumn) 2019, Gheorghe-Sorin Paraoanu

Low Temperature Physics: III-IV (Spring 2020), Pertti Hakonen

Extent: 5-6 cr per section

Learning Outcomes (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

After the course, the students will be prepared for the present-day research in condensed matter physics and, in particular, in quantum engineering and nanotechnology. The participants will develop abilities to follow/understand ongoing research (in the form of papers, presentations, seminars) as well as develop skills needed to start  research in the field of the low-temperature physics.

Theory of Superconductivity: The students will get a basic understanding of the fascinating phenomenon of superconductivity and will learn how the features of superconducting materials are used in creation of various quantum devices; will be able to calculate properties of simple superconducting structures; will get an idea about very modern developments in this area of physics, like topological materials.

Nanoelectronics:  The students will master advanced techniques for modeling electrical and thermal transport processes in nanoelectronics. They will acquire a solid background on the operation of nanoelectronic devices such as single-electron transistors, Cooper pair pumps, SQUIDs, SINIS coolers, nanomechanical oscillators, parametric amplifiers.

Low Temperature Physics: The students will learn how to construct a successful experiment using low-temperature techniques.

Content (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Theory of Superconductivity: The Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory of superconductivity; normal-superconducting interfaces; Josephson and tunneling phenomena, weak links; superconducting nanostructures; introduction to unconventional and topological superconductivity.

Nanoelectronics: review of key results in quantum physics and solid-state physics, semiclassical transport (Boltzmann equation), scattering theory (Landauer-Buttiker formalism), tunneling and Coulomb blockade, SIS and NIS junctions, superconducting qubits, graphene, noise and correlations, input-output theory, nanomechanical systems, quantum amplifiers, advanced quantum materials for nanoelectronics.

Low Temperature Physics: Behavior of matter at low temperatures; modern refrigerators and submilliKelvin apparata; ultrasensitive measurement techniques.

Details on the course content (applies in this implementation): 

Lectures topics:

  • Introduction to superconductivity
  • BCS theory I
  • BCS theory II
  • GL theory I
  • GL theory II
  • Andreev reflection and bound states
  • Current in superconducting junctions
  • Josephson effect and weak links
  • Quantum phenomena in Josephson junctions
  • Unconventional superconductivity
  • Topological superconductivity

Assessment Methods and Criteria (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Homework and written final exam after each part.

Elaboration of the evaluation criteria and methods, and acquainting students with the evaluation (applies in this implementation): 

Each lecture is followed by a homework (problem solving) which has to be returned before the next exercise session and is scored. Normalized homework scores are included to final evaluation (up to 6 points). Additional points are collected by presenting own solutions at the exercise sessions (up to 4 points).

Written exams includes 5 problems, each scored 0-6. Incomplete and attempted solutions are also scored. The total score is computed from the exam and the homework (see above, but maximum 1/2 of the total). To pass the threshold is 12 points and the highest grade is 24 points.

Workload (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

(per each part)

Contact teaching: 24 hrs (2 hrs/week)

In-class exercises: 24 hrs (2 hrs/week)

Independent work: 75-90 hrs

Exam: 3 h

Study Material (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Lecture notes and other course material will be listed on MyCourses.

Details on the course materials (applies in this implementation): 

The main material is the lecture notes published in the files section of MyCourses. The content of the notes is sufficient for solution of all homework and exercise problems. These notes can be freely used at the exam.

Additional reading:

  • M. Tinkham, Introduction to superconductivity.
    McGraw-Hill, New York. (1996); Dover Books (2004)
  • P. G. de Gennes, Superconductivity of metals and alloys.
    W. A. Benjamin, New York (1966); Perseus Books (1999)
  • A. A. Abrikosov, Fundamentals of the theory of metals.
    North Holland, Amsterdam (1998)

Substitutes for Courses (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

This course will replace the course Tfy-3.4801

Course Homepage (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=PHYS-E0551

Prerequisites (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

quantum physics and solid-state physics, e.g. PHYS-E0414, PHYS-E0421

Grading Scale (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

0-5

Registration for Courses (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Registration via WebOodi.

Further Information (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Contact the lecturers.

Details on the schedule (applies in this implementation): 

There is no exercise session on the first week (Jan 8). The course start with the introductory lecture on January 9.

Description

Registration and further information