Students will develop an understanding of the physical properties that emerge due to electron-electron interactions and band structure in solids, including a critical awareness of properties that cannot be explained by treating electrons individually. They will be able to conceptually understand the theoretical emergence of, and parallels between, ferromagnetism, superconductivity and exemplar contemporary strongly correlated electron effects. Using these theories, students will be able to design experimental methods to measure such phenomena.

(LO1) Evaluate the impact of electron-electron interactions on the physical properties of matter

(LO2) Determine the mechanisms underpinning magnetic order and conventional superconductivity in solids, and their interrelation with key physical parameters

(LO3) Analyse experimental data from correlated electron phenomena using appropriate theoretical models

(LO4) Plan suitable experiments/methods to measure correlated electron phenomena

- The nearly free electron model and its limitations
- Interrelation between correlated electrons and the physical properties of solids Heisenberg model of magnetism and magnetic exchange (direct and indirect)
- Magnetism in metals, the Stoner criterion and the Slater-Pauling curve
- Magnetism in reduced dimensions
- Phenomenological description of superconductivity
- Theoretical models of superconductivity, London equation, Ginzburg-Landau model
- Phase transitions and mean field theory
- The macroscopic wave function and superfluidity
- Josephson effect and Josephson junctions
- Cooper pairs and introduction to BCS theory
- Contemporary correlated electron effects
- Modern characterisation techniques and numerical methods to investigate example materials

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture
Description: Lecture

Teaching Method 2 - Tutorial
Description: Tutorial