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Root number
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476928 |
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Semester
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HS2022 |
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Type of course
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Lecture |
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Allocation to subject
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Physics |
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Type of exam
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not defined |
| Title |
Specialist course: Phase transitions and critical phenomena |
| Description |
In this lecture we will establish and develop a framework in which critical phenomena associated with classical and quantum phase transitions can be described. The important concept of universality in statistical mechanics provides the basement for the general framework and leads to fundamental tools such as scaling theory and the renormalisation group. These phenomenological approaches allow the description of large scale behaviour in quantum as well as classical field theories and are at the interface between condensed matter and high energy physics. The crucial role of symmetry and topology will be emphasised along the way.
Outline:
After a short introduction to critical phenomena which will touch upon the concept of phase transitions, order parameters, response functions and universality, we will review the Ginzburg-Landau theory, in particular mean field theory, critical exponents, symmetry breaking, Goldstone modes, critical dimensions, fluctuations and correlation functions, as well as the Ginzburg criterion. The scaling theory then deals with self-similarity, the scaling hypothesis, Kadanoff’s heuristic renormalisation group (RG), the Gaussian model, fixed points and critical exponent identities. After establishing Wilson’s momentum space RG and the concept of relevant, irrelevant and marginal parameters we will introduce the epsilon-expansion. Finally, we will also discuss topological phase transitions by means of the non-linear sigma-model and the XY-model, and introduce the concepts of algebraic order, topological defects, confinement and the Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition. |
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ILIAS-Link (Learning resource for course)
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No registration/deregistration in CTS (Admission in ILIAS possible).
ILIAS
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Link to another web site
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| Lecturers |
Prof. Dr.
Urs Wenger, Institute of Theoretical Physics ✉
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ECTS
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4 |
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Recognition as optional course possible
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Yes |
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Grading
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1 to 6 |
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| Dates |
Wednesday 10:15-12:00 Weekly
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Thursday 10:15-11:00 Weekly
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Thursday 19/1/2023 10:00-12:00
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Wednesday 25/1/2023 07:15-18:00
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Wednesday 15/2/2023 09:00-16:00
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| Rooms |
Hörraum 119, Exakte Wissenschaften, ExWi
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| Students please consult the detailed view for complete information on dates, rooms and planned podcasts. |
User:
Öffentlicher Bereich
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