Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of this course is to provide students with the fundamental concepts of modern solid-state theory, focusing on emergent phenomena in quantum materials. The course connects with a variety of concepts from previous courses of statistical physics, quantum mechanics and electromagnetism. The course especially emphasizes the importance of collective behavior, quasiparticles and emergent behavior in complex quantum systems.  Among others, the course presents the topological characterization of electronic systems, spontaneous symmetry and emergent quasiparticles, superconductivity, quantum spin liquids, fractional quantum Hall effect, tensor network and neural network quantum many-body algorithms and machine learning applied to quantum materials.

Credits: 5

Schedule: 24.02.2025 - 28.05.2025

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Jose Lado Villanueva

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

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Selected topics on quantum materials and quantum matter: topological insulators, superconductors and Majorana physics, quantum spin-liquids, symmetry broken states, tensor-networks and machine learning quantum materials.

    List of lectures:
    Lecture 1: Second quantization, mean-field and spontaneous symmetry breaking
    Lecture 2: Symmetries, reciprocal space, Bloch’s theorem
    Lecture 3: Band structure theory, tight binding and effective models
    Lecture 5: Topological band structure theory
    Lecture 6: Electrons in a magnetic field, quantum Hall effect and Landau Levels
    Lecture 7: Superconductivity, Nambu representation and Majorana physics
    Lecture 8: Magnetism, magnons, quantum magnetism and spinons
    Lecture 4: Excitations and defects in quantum materials
    Lecture 10: Tensor network and neural network many-body wavefunctions
    Lecture 11: Machine learning for quantum materials
    Lecture 12: Summary

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Lectures with pre-assignments, group presentations on selected topics in quantum materials, individual exercise and oral exam. Grading is based on weighted average of the previous tasks.

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Contact teaching includes lectures and group presentations, group work and independent work.

DETAILS

Study Material
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Many-Body Quantum Theory in Condensed Matter Physics, Henrik Bruus and Karsten Flensberg
    The Oxford Solid State Basics, Steven H. Simon
    Topological Quantum: Lecture Notes, Steven H. Simon
    Solid State Physics, Giuseppe Grosso and Giuseppe Pastori Parravicini
    Lecture notes: Solid State Theory, Manfred Sigrist
    Lecture Notes: Introduction to Condensed Matter Theory, Titus Neupert

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    3 Good Health and Well-being

    4 Quality Education

    7 Affordable and Clean Energy

    8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

    9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Teaching Language: English

    Teaching Period: 2024-2025 Spring IV - V
    2025-2026 Spring IV - V