NFYK16002U Quantum Magnetism

Volume 2016/2017
Education

M.Sc. Physics

Content

(focus is put differently from year to year but covers)

  • Classical magnetic order, different antiferromagnetic phases

  • Classical phase transitions and critical phenomena

  • Corrections to the classical picture of magnetism (spin wave theory, mean field theory, magnetic thermodynamics, high-temperature expansion)

  • Solvable non-frustrated quantum systems (1D Ising model, 1D Heisenberg chain, Small systems, exact diagonalization, 2D Ising square lattice)

  • Quantum phase transitions (1D Ising transverse field, General picture)

  • Frustration (2D triangular Ising, Anderson RVB,Spin glasses)

  • Experimental techniques (susceptibility, magnetization, heat capacity, Resonant magnetic x-ray scattering, polarized neutron scattering, muon spin rotation)

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:
The students aquire an understanding of current solved and unsolved problems in many-body quantum mechanics, exemplified in quantum magnets. They also obtain an uderstanding of particular current topics as quantum phase transitions and frustration in magnetism.

Skills:
The students become proficient with a number of theoretical methods, including mean-field theory, spin wave theory, high-temperature expansion, and exact diagonalization.

Competences:
In addition, the students are capable of interpreting and modeling data from a number of experimental techniques, including susceptibility, heat capacity, and neutron scattering.

(is picked from)

  • S. Blundell: Magnetism in Condensed matter (background from magnetism course)

  • K. Lefmann: Neutron scattering (magnetism course notes or Neutron course notes)

  • K. Yosida: Theory of Magnetism

  • D.C. Mattis: Magnetism made simple

  • S. Sachdev: Quantum Phase Transitions

  • Original articles

Knowledge of basic solid state physics and magnetism, corresponding to Magnetism and Magnetic Materials or Condensed Matter Physics 2.
Lectures, problems, student presentations, and projects (studiekreds)
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 40
  • Colloquia
  • 40
  • Exercises
  • 40
  • Project work
  • 86
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, 4 weeks
Project report, possibly 2-person groups. The students have 4 weeks (parallel to the teaching) to work on the project, which should be handed in in the exam week.
Exam registration requirements

2 student presentations

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
The course responsible plus one person.
Re-exam

same as ordinary exam.

A student who has not fulfilled the exam registration requirements (2 presentations) must instead pass an oral test no later than 2 weeks before the re-exam date.

Criteria for exam assesment

The student must demonstrate that they are able to use a majority of the methods, mentioned under learning outcome, to solve a specific research-near problem in quantum magnetism.