Department of Physics

Wake Forest University

Course Description

Quantum Materials, information theory, topological systems, nonabelian quasiparticle excitations, nonequilibrium systems and time crystals ... the world of condensed matter physics is rapidly evolving and expanding. Specifically, we are quickly moving beyond simple, adiabatic, single electron state approximations to ask deeper questions about the nature of a relativistic many-bodied wavefunction that must express the same basic principles of symmetry and symmetry breaking as found in studies of our most fundamental principles in nature. Leading the way in these explorations are the novel new materials systems that have been developed. Nanoscale, topologically complex, and geometrically bounded systems that let us understand the very limits of our models. This course is a survey of such systems, how and why they matter to the study of matter, and some thoughts as to where we might be going with all of this. It is intended as a quantitative supplement to existing courses in solid state physics but may be taken in any sequence with those. However, clearly, you get more out of it the more background you bring into it.

Course Structure

The course meets once per week for a lecture and involves a heavy reading assignment. Grades are determined entirely on the HW assignments. The course is presented in tutorial style, with participation in discussions and class-room problem solving expected.

Text:

The course is based on the text: Essential Solid State Physics by Roth and Carroll published by Wiley Interscience (2019).