All programmes > Electron Correlations: Superconductivity and Magnetism

Electron Correlations: Superconductivity and Magnetism (B-KUL-G0S93B)

6 ECTSEnglish36 Second termCannot be taken as part of an examination contract
Van Bael Margriet (coordinator) |  Van Bael Margriet |  da Costa Pereira Lino
POC Fysica en sterrenkunde

Aims

To get insight into fundamental properties and into phenomenology of the correlated electrons in solids causing the appearance of magnetism and superconductivity. With this information in hand, the students can apply it in order to understand current research topics, the working principles of modern applications and the societal relevance of superconductivity and magnetism.

Previous knowledge

Student should be familiar with a basic/introductory level of:
- quantum mechanics  (as in e.g. G0Y20A or equivalent)
- statistical mechanics (as in e.g. G0S00A or equivalent)
- condensed matter physics (as in e.g. G0Y94A or equivalent)

Is included in these courses of study

Activities

6 ects. Electron Correlations: Superconductivity and Magnetism (B-KUL-G0S93a)

6 ECTSEnglishFormat: Lecture36 Second term
Van Bael Margriet |  da Costa Pereira Lino
POC Fysica en sterrenkunde

Content

A. SUPERCONDUCTIVITY

Fundamental properties of superconductors
Vanishing of electrical resistance, Meissner effect, fluxoid quantisation, the London equations, macroscopic quantum phenomenon, quantum interference: the Josephson effect, Quantum interference in a magnetic field (SQUID loop)

Superconducting Materials
Conventional and unconventional superconductors; superconducting elements, alloys and compounds; fullerides; superconducting oxides, cuprates, bismuthates, ruthanates; iron pnictates and related compounds; organic superconductors.

Cooper pairing
Conventional superconductivity: electron phonon interaction, the superconducting state, quasiparticles and the BCS-theory; experimental confirmation of fundamental concepts the isotope effect and the energy gap

Thermodynamic properties of the superconducting state
Specific heat; the Ginzburg Landau theory, characteristic lengths of the Ginzburg Landau theory; Type-I superconductors in a magnetic field, the intermediate state, the wall energy; Type-II superconductors in a magnetic field, magnetization curve and critical fields, the Shubnikov state and flux lines.

Critical currents in superconductors
Limit of the supercurrent due to pair breaking; critical current in Type-II superconductors; flux pinning

Applications of superconductivity

Research topics on superconducting nanosystems

 

B. MAGNETISM

Magnetism basic aspects

  • review of basic magnetostatics
  • magnetization and magnetic materials, definitions and units
  • atomic origins of magnetism
  • Diamagnetism
  • Paramagnetism
  • Interactions in ferromagnetic materials
  • Ferromagnetic domains
  • Antiferromagnetism
  • Ferrimagnetism

Magnetic phenomena

  • Anisotropy
  • Magnetoresistance (AMR, GMR, CMR)
  • Exchange bias
  • Multiferroicity

Novel magnetic materials

Research topics on magnetic nanosystems and quantum magnets

 

Course material

-Nicola Spaldin, Magnetic materials, fundamentals and applications (2nd edition, 2010)
-Reinhold Kleiner and Werner Buckel, Superconductivity, An Introduction (third edition, 2015)
-Lecture notes and/or slides.

Evaluation

Evaluation: Electron Correlations: Superconductivity and Magnetism (B-KUL-G2S93b)

Type : Exam during the examination period
Description of evaluation : Written, Oral
Type of questions : Open questions
Learning material : List of formulas, Calculator

Explanation


The exam contains several questions. The final score is the algebraic sum of the results on all questions. There is an equal weight for the questions on the superconductivity part and on the magnetism part.