FYSS5410 Superconductivity (9 cr)

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Study level:
Advanced studies
Grading scale:
0-5
Language:
English
Responsible organisation:
Department of Physics
Curriculum periods:
2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020

Description

Content

Phenomenology of superconductivity, microscopic BCS theory and its predictions, especially on tunnel junctions. Type II superconductors and their electrodynamics. Josephson junctions, SQUIDs. Applications of superconductivity in large scale and electronics. First half of the course has lectures and demos, second half is a seminar part where students give seminars on topics of applied superconductivity.

Completion methods

Exam and seminar presentation, homework problems.

Assessment details

Students are expected to have at least 50 % of the course points to pass the course. To assess the students’ learning, teacher can use a combination of different assessment methods and the course grade is divided into component parts, each part worth some percentage of the total grade (e.g. assignments 30 %, examination 50 %, seminar attendance 20 % of the grade).

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to describe the main the main electrodynamic phenomenology of superconductivity, both type-I and type -II superconductors. They will know the London equations and the concept of a vortex and vortex lattice. They will have a detailed picture of the celebrated BCS-theory of superconductivity, the origin for the formation of Cooper pairing, description of the theory in the formalism of second quantization for both the ground state and excitations. They will know how BCS theory explains quasiparticle tunneling in junctions, ultrasonic attenuation, EM absorption and Meissner effect. They will know what are the basics of Ginzburg-Landau theory and the Josephson effect. The students will also get a wide picture of the modern applications of superconductivity for detectors, electronics, large scale devices and examples of novel superconducting materials.

Description of prerequisites

FYSA2031-FYSA2031 Quantum Mechanics (parts A and B), FYSS5300 Condensed Matter Physics or similar.

Literature

  • Michael Tinkham: Introduction to Superconductivity, 2nd Ed Dover edition 2004; ISBN: 978-0486435039
  • Theodore Van Duzer and Charles W. Turner: Superconductive Devices and Circuits, 2nd Ed, Prentice Hall 1999; ISBN: 978-0132627429

Completion methods

Method 1

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Parts of the completion methods
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Teaching (9 cr)

Type:
Participation in teaching
Grading scale:
0-5
Language:
English
No published teaching