Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics (AM 579a)

Lectures: Mondays 1:30-3:30pm MC204
Problem Session: Fridays 11:30am-12:30pm MC204

Instructors
  • Prof. Colin Denniston and Prof. Martin Müser (Applied Math)
  • email: cdennist at uwo.ca  or  mmuser at uwo.ca
  • web: www.apmaths.uwo.ca/~cdennist/
               publish.uwo.ca/~mmuser/


  • Outline:  The following is a list of topics we would like to cover.  Topics near the top of the list will be covered with certainty, while those near the bottom will be covered as time permits.
    Section I
      Basics on crystalline and fluid structure
      Scattering
      Harmonic theory of solids
      Continuum limit: Elasticity

    Section II
      Basic thermodynamics and density functional theories of fluids
      Basic density functional theory for electrons
      Electron interactions in DFT
      Square gradient theories
      Onsager and Maier-Saupe Model of liquid crystals

    Section III
      Brownian motion
      Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorem -lastweek
      Linear response
      Relaxation time approximation
      Boltzmann equation

    Section IV
      Electrons in periodic potentials

    Section V
      Phase transitions:
      Elementary mean-field approach.
      Critical exponents
      Scaling

    Grading:
    Weekly problem assignments:  60%
    Final exam: 40%
    This course is primarily a problem based course.  The final exam will be based on the weekly problem assignments and its' purpose is to ensure you go over the problem solutions and learn from any mistakes.