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Physics 7364 Spring 2014
Condensed Matter Physics II
Instructor: Ilya Vekhter Phone: 578-0598
Office: Nicholson 210E
Office Hours: by appointment
Email: vekhter@phys.lsu.edu
Lecture time: T,Th 12:00 PM – 1:20 PM, Nicholson 106 OR Frey 307, depending on whether
we have live lectures or videolink.
Course description: The first semester of condensed matter physics largely focuses on the
physics of non-interacting electrons in solids. This class will focus on the phenomenological and
quantum mechanical description of the ordering phenomena arising from interactions and on the
collective behavior of many-particle systems. We will start with qualitative description of the
ordered phases (mostly magnetic and superconducting), phase transitions between them at the
level of Ginzburg-Landau theories for homogeneous and inhomogeneous cases. In the second
half (or final third) of semester we will see how this phenomenological description arises from
the quantum-mechanical analysis of the interactions between particles. I will assume that the
students have working knowledge of such concepts as crystal lattices, Bloch’s theorem, energy
bands, Fermi surface, as well as mastery of quantum mechanics and understanding of statistical
physics of bosons and fermions.
Course format: When I teach by video link, Powerpoint slides will be made available at the end
of the week.
Grading:
• 10 % class participation
• 30% homeworks (submitted by email, pdf only, file size < 1MB)
• 30% final paper (LaTeX using revtex Phys. Rev. B two-column formatting, 6
pages minimum not including references, subject topic to be approved by me)
• 30% final presentation (20min + 10min for questions, conference-style, based
on the paper you submitted).
Textbook: none required. I will draw on several textbooks throughout the semester, as well as on
my own expertise. Below is a list of books that may be useful, more books may be mentioned in
class
A. Abrikosov, “Fundamentals of the theory of metals”. A very good deep physical explanation of
the physics of simple metals, especially of the transport phenomena, and a very good
introduction to superconductivity.
N. Ashcroft and N. D. Mermin, “Solid State Physics”. One of the most beautifully written and
comprehensive textbooks on the standard subjects of solid state physics.
P. Taylor and O. Heinonen, “A Quantum Approach to Condensed Matter Physics”. Selected

subjects covered from the fully quantum viewpoint.
P. Fazekas, “Lecture Notes on Electron Correlations and Magnetism”,
A. Auerbach “Interacting electrons and Quantum Magnetism”,
D. Matthis “Theory of Magnetism”,
L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz, “Electrodynamics of continuous media”, “Statistical Physics
Vol. 2”
M. Tinkham, “Introduction to superconductivity”.
P. Phillips, “Advanced Solid State Physics”.
Course website: http://www.phys.lsu.edu/faculty/vekhter/Teaching.html
Topics covered in class: We will cover most of the following subjects:
• Magnetic systems near the transition. Ginzburg-Landau expansion.
• Ginzburg-Landau theories for the first and second order phase transitions.
• Ginzburg-Landau theories for ferromagnets and antiferromagnets. Domain wall structure.
Magnetization curves. Magnetic anisotropy. Spin-flop transition.
• Ginzburg-Landau theory of superconductivity: basic phenomena. Flux quantization,
Josephson effect, vortex solutions.
• Derivation of the exchange Hamiltonian in insulators. Heisenberg model.
• Magnetism in insulators. Spin waves.
• Coulomb interaction and ferromagnetism in metallic systems (Stoner instability)
• Electron-phonon interaction
• BCS hamiltonian and microscopic solution for superconductivity
• Towards microscopic description of metallic states: second quantization.
• Screening, plasma oscillations, Hartree-Fock approximation (if time allows)