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402-0888-00L 4 Credits DS D-MATH , D-PHYS
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Field Theory in Condensed Matter Physics

Does not take place this semester.
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:18:59

Abstract

The topics covered in this class are: superfluidity in weakly interacting Bose gas, the random phase approximation to the Coulomb interaction in the Jellium model, superconductivity within the random phase approximation, the renormalization group analysis of non-linear-sigma models and of the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition.

Content

In this class I will show, by examples, how field theory can describe some important phenomena in condensed matter physics. The transition from a discrete to a continuum description is illustrated with the one-dimensional Harmonic chain both in classical and quantum mechanics in Lecture 1. Spontaneous symmetry breaking is introduced with the phenomenon of superfluidity for a weakly interacting Bose gas in Lecture 2. Lectures 3 and 4 deal with the physics of screening in the Jellium model for electrons at the level of the random phase approximation. Superconductivity is described within the mean-field and random-phase approximation in Lectures 5 and 6. The Caldeira-Leggett model for dissipation, in the context of a Josephson junction, is treated in Lectures 7 and 8. Classical non-linear-sigma models are introduced in Lecture 9 and their beta functions are calculated explicitly for the O(N)/O(N-1) target manifold in the 2+epsilon expansion in Lectures 9 and 10. The Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition is discussed in a one-loop renormalization group analysis in Lecture 11. Lecture 12 is devoted to bosonization in (1+1)-dimensional space time.

General Information

Language
English
Levels
DS
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
session examination
Mode
oral 20 minutes

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture Field Theory in Condensed Matter Physics
Does not take place this semester.
No time listed 2 h weekly
exercise Field Theory in Condensed Matter Physics
Does not take place this semester.
No time listed 1 h weekly

Offered In