2016/2017

2017/2018

DM270

FIS/03 (MATERIAL PHYSICS)

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

Fisica teorica

2°

1st semester (02/10/2017 - 19/01/2018)

6

48 lesson hours

Italian or English upon request (English friendly course - http://fisica.unipv.it/dida/English-friendly-programme.pdf)

ORAL TEST

CARRETTA PIETRO (titolare) - 4 ECTS
PRANDO GIACOMO - 2 ECTS

Knowledge of the basic aspects of quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics and the foundations of solid state physics, namely the lattice structures, the electronic bands and the lattice vibrations. The student should have already learned those aspects during the first three years of university.

Learning of the basic aspects of phase transitions and the fundamental properties of magnetic and superconducting materials.

First the general aspects of phase transitions will be introduced: phenomenology, first and second order transitions, the order parameter, the response functions, the critical exponents, the correlation function and their behaviour on approaching a phase transition, the correlation effects among critical variables and the Stoner-Hubbard model. Then the course will address the magnetic properties of matter starting from the metals: the generalized susceptibility, the Landau levels, de Haas-Van Alphen effect, Landau diamagnetism, Pauli paramagnetism, dimensionality effects and the spin density waves. Then the basic aspects involved in the paramagnetism of insulators are recalled and the direct and indirect exchange interactions treated. The static properties and excitations in ferromagnets, antiferromagnets and in other types of magnetically ordered systems are presented. The effects of magnetic frustration are outlined and the main properties of molecular magnets described. Then the basic aspects of superconductors will be introduced: their thermodynamic properties, the London equations, the Cooper pair formation, the gap and the isotope effect, the Josephson effect and the SQUID, the Ginzburg-Landau theory. Finally some techniques which allow to investigate the basic properties of magnetic and superconducting materials will be presented: magnetometry, NMR, µSR and neutron scattering.

Lectures and problem solving, trying to keep a high interactive level with the students.

A.Rigamonti and P.Carretta, Structure of Matter (3rd Edition) Springer International Pub. (2015)
G. Grosso and G. Pastori Parravicini, Solid State Physics (Academic Press, 2000).
H. Eugene Stanley, Introduction to Phase Transitions and Critical Phenomena (Oxford University Press)
C. Kittel, Introduction to Solid State Physics (John Wiley & Sons 2005)

Oral exam. The students should concentrate on the comprehension of the physical aspects involved and focus on the qualitative behaviour of the various quantities and on the experimental methods used to derive them.

Oral exam. The students should concentrate on the comprehension of the physical aspects involved and focus on the qualitative behaviour of the various quantities and on the experimental methods used to derive them.