| Unit name | Condensed Matter Physics 311 |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHYS31111 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2D (weeks 19 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Nick Brook |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
The award of 120 credit points of units at level I comprising programme in Physics, Physics with Astrophysics, a joint honours programme in Mathematics and Physics or Physics and Philosophy, or a Chemical Physics programme |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Physics |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Lattice Dynamics: Adiabatic approximation. Vibrations of monoatomic and diatomic linear chain. Acoustic and optical modes. Quantization of lattice vibrations (phonons). Lattice Thermal Properties: Density of states. Einstein and Debye models of the lattice specific heat. Debye temperature. Heat conduction by phonons and electrons. Review of Fermi-Dirac statistics - spin� particles. The Ideal Bose gas- integer spin particles. Bose-Einstein condensation. Application to ultracold atomic gases in traps. The van der Waals gas. Maxwell's construction and gas-liquid critical point. Concept of a phase transition. Phase diagram of real substances, triple point. A brief introduction to Landau's theory of phase transitions. Order parameters, examples from magnetism and liquid crystals. Concept of critical exponent.
