Objective: PHZ 7428 is an advanced graduate course covering a selection of methods used to treat many-particle systems and applications of those methods to topics in modern condensed matter physics. Its aim is to provide a technical grounding that permits students to carry on to pursure theoretical research in the field, and to introduce areas of phenomenology that are important in condensed matter physics. The course should be useful to both theorists and experimentalists. Prerequisites: It will be assumed that you have successfully completed (1) quantum mechanics at the level of PHY 6645 and PHY 6646, and (2) solid-state state physics at the level of PHZ 6426 and PHZ 7427. If you have any doubt about your preparation, you should consult the instructor as early as possible in the semester. Topics Covered: It is anticipated that the course will address the topics listed below.
Deviations in content and ordering from the plan presented above are very likely. A list of topics actually covered, along with relevant background reading, will be maintained on the course Web pages. Texts: There is no required text for the course. There are many texts on many-body theory and its applications. Any or all of the books listed below may provide useful supplemental reading. Each book has its advantages ('+') and disadvantages ('−'). A copy of each book will be placed on reserve at the Marston Science Library. Many-Particle Physics, G. D. Mahan (Plenum, 2nd edition, 1990 or 3rd edition, 2000).
Quantum Theory of Many-Particle Systems, A. Fetter and J. D. Walecka (Dover, 2003). A corrected reprint of a 1971 text.
Methods of Quantum Field Theory in Statistical Field Theory, A. A. Abrikosov, L. P. Gorkov, and I. E. Dzyaloshinski (Dover, 1975). A corrected reprint of a 1963 translation of a 1961 book.
A Guide to Feynman Diagrams in the Many-Body Problem, R. D. Mattuck (Dover, 1992). An unaltered reprint of the 1974 second edition.
Quantum Field Theory in Condensed Matter Physics, N. Nagaosa (Springer-Verlag, 1999).
Homework: Your grade on PHZ 7428 will be entirely based on homework. Four homeworks will be assigned during the course of the semester. You will have at least two weeks to complete each assignment. No credit will be awarded for any assignment submitted after the solutions have been made available to the class. You will get the most from the course if you start out by making a good-faith effort at tackling each homework problem on your own. However, if you get stuck, feel free to discuss your conceptual or technical difficulties with other students or with the instructor. Collaboration plays an essential role in science. You are encouraged to work with other members of the class to understand how to solve the homework problems, and you are likely to learn more by studying cooperatively. However, there are two strict requirements for each homework set: (1) You must list all your collaborators, just as you would on a scientific paper. For this purpose, a "collaborator" is anyone (other than the course instructor) who assisted you or with whom you worked on the homework set in question. Listing many collaborators will not reduce your homework score, but it is important to acknowledge everyone who contributed. (2) You must write up the final version of each problem yourself, presenting the solution in your own words. Blind copying of another student's solution is plagiarism, a form of academic dishonesty. Your submitted homework solutions should explain your reasoning clearly but concisely, cite the source of any results given without proof, and be legible and reasonably neat. Deficiencies in any of these areas may result in deductions from the score you receive. Please note that you will receive credit, not for what you know, but rather for what you demonstrate you know by writing it in your solution. Exams: There will be no exams in this course. Grade: Your grade will be assigned on the basis of your overall score on the homework. There will be no rigid point scale or grade curve used to assign letter grades for the course. A competent performance on the homework assignments will earn an "A" grade. You will receive feedback on your likely grade after each homework. Accommodations: Students requesting classroom accommodations must first register with the Office for Students with Disabilities, located in the Dean of Students Office, P205 Peabody Hall. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student, who must then deliver this documentation to the instructor when requesting accommodations. Academic Honesty: All University of Florida students are required to abide by the University's Academic Honesty Guidelines and by the Honor Code, which reads as follows:
Kevin Ingersent / ingersent@phys.ufl.edu / Last modified: Aug 27, 2004. |