Course syllabus

Course-PM

FMI036 Superconductivity and low-temperature physics lp3 VT20 (7.5 hp)

Course is offered by the department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience

Course specific prerequisites

A basic course in quantum mechanics (i.e. FUF040), and a basic course in solid state physics/electronics (i.e. FFY011).

Aim

Physical phenomena are often studied at low temperature, particularly within condensed matter physics. Coherence effects become dominating. The course contents are concentrated to a few sub-fields:
1. studies of superconductors (about half the time), both an understanding of superconductivity starting from microscopic properties and of macroscopic quantum effects, particularly the Josephson effects;
2. properties of superfluid helium and Bose-Einstein condensates, i.e. of macroscopic quantum fluids; 3. low temperature techniques, i.e. a summary of different cooling methods, thermal properties of materials, thermometry, etc. The course is suitable for those that want to continue doing research in Physics.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

Explain the basic properties of both high Tc and low Tc superconductors.
Apply Londons equations to superconductors to explain their electromagnetic properties.
Describe thermodynamic properties of superconductors.  With the help of Ginzburg Landau theory describe different lengthscales such as the penetration depth and the coherence length, and explain the differences between type I and type II superconductors.
Account for the basic ideas of the BCS theory, like Cooper-pairing, energy gap and the density of states for excitations.
Describe the phase diagrams for both helium-3 and helium-4.
Describe how Bose-Einstein condensation comes about.
Describe superfluid phenomena such as, rollin film, the fountain effect and second sound.
Describe different cooling methods which are used both above and below 1 Kelvin.
Explain physical properties of different materials at low temperature.

Content

The course may be considered as an application of courses in quantum physics, solid state physics, electrodynamics and thermodynamics.
The course has three parts: 

SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
Basic properties of superconductors, thermodynamics, superconductors in magnetic fields
The London equations, electromagnetic properties, penetration depth
Ginzburg-Landau theory, coherence length, type I and type II superconductors
BCS theory, second quantization, Cooper-pairing, energy gap
Tunneling, Josephson effects and SIS tunneling

High T_c superconductors, structure, d-wave symmetry, phase diagram,
Overview of applications, squids, microwave devices, power applications 

SUPERFLUIDITY
Properties of liquid helium-4, the phase diagram, superfluidity
Superfluid phenomena, rollin film, fountain effect, second sound
Exitations and vortecies in superfluids
Properties of liquid helium-3, the phase diagra, superfluidity
Symmetry properties of superfluid helium-3

CRYOGENICS
Themal and electrical properties for different materials at low temperature
Cooling methods above 1K, Joule-Tomphson, Gifford-McMahon, evaporation cooling
Liquefication of helium
Cooling methods below 1K, dilution refrigeration, adiabatic demagnetisation, Pomerantchuck cooling

Organisation

The course embraces lectures (about 32 hours), two laborations (Josephson effect, and superfluid helium)and home exercises.

Literature

J.R. Waldram: Superconductivity of metals and cuprates
(Institute of Physics Publ., Bristol, 1996, pbk)
Lecture notes.

Examination including compulsory elements

The course ends with a written exam. There is a laboratory part that must be taken.

Contact details

• Examiner and teacher:
  • Dag Winkler
  • Office: D420 @MC2
  • Mail: dag.winkler@chalmers.se
  • Phone: +46 (0)730-794380
• Teachers:
  • Dag Winkler (dag.winkler@chalmers.se)
  • August Yurgens (yurgens@chalmers.se)
  • Alexey Kalaboukhov (alexei.kalaboukhov@chalmers.se)
• Teaching assistants:
• supervisors

...along with their contact details. If the course have external guest lecturers or such, give a brief description of their role and the company or similar they represent.

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Schedule

TimeEdit

Course literature

List all mandatory literature, including descriptions of how to access the texts (e.g. Cremona, Chalmers Library, links).Also list reference literature, further reading, and other non-mandatory texts.

J.R. Waldram: Superconductivity of metals and cuprates
(Institute of Physics Publ., Bristol, 1996, pbk)
Lecture notes.

Course design

Description of the course's learning activities; how they are implemented and how they are connected. This is the student's guide to navigating the course. Do not forget to give the student advice on how to learn as much as possible based on the pedagogy you have chosen. Often, you may need to emphasize concrete things like how often they should enter the learning space on the learning platform, how different issues are shared between supervisors, etc.

Provide a plan for

• lectures
• exervises
• laboratory work
• projects
• supervision
• feedback
• seminars

Should contain a description of how the digital tools (Canvas and others) should be used and how they are organized, as well as how communication between teachers and students takes place (Canvas, e-mail, other).

Do not forget to describe any resources that students need to use, such as lab equipment, studios, workshops, physical or digital materials.

You should be clear how missed deadlines and revisions are handled.

Changes made since the last occasion

A summary of changes made since the last occasion.

Learning objectives and syllabus

Learning objectives:

Explain the basic properties of both high Tc and low Tc superconductors. Apply Londons equations to superconductors to explain their electromagnetic properties. Describe thermodynamic properties of superconductors. -With the help of Ginzburg Landau theory describe different lengthscales such as the penetration depth and the coherence length, and explain the differences between type I and type II superconductors. Account for the basic ideas of the BCS theory, like Cooper-pairing, energy gap and the density of states for excitations. Describe the phase diagrams for both helium-3 and helium-4. Describe how Bose-Einstein condensation comes about. Describe superfluid phenomena such as, rollin film, the fountain effect and second sound. Describe different cooling methods which are used both above and below 1 Kelvin. Explain physical properties of different materials at low temperature.

Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen.

Study plan

If the course is a joint course (Chalmers and Göteborgs Universitet) you should link to both syllabus (Chalmers and Göteborgs Universitet).

Examination form

Description of how the examination – written examinations and other – is executed and assessed.

Include:

• what components are included, the purpose of these, and how they contribute to the learning objectives
• how compulsory and/or voluntary components contribute to the final grade
• grading limits and any other requirements for all forms of examination in order to pass the course (compulsory components)
• examination form, e.g. if the examination is conducted as a digital examination

• time and place of examination, both written exams and other exams such as project presentations
• aids permitted during examinations, as well as which markings, indexes and notes in aids are permitted

Do not forget to be extra clear with project assignments; what is the problem, what should be done, what is the expected result, and how should this result be reported. Details such as templates for project reports, what happens at missed deadlines etc. are extra important to include.