Electronic Properties of Doped Semiconductors with Michael Smith
Semiconductors form the basis for the modern electronics we know today; being used in diodes, transistors, as well as other electronic devices. The electronic transport properties of semiconductors can be precisely controlled by doping, which explains their usefulness in electronics. We will explore the theory of electrons in doped semiconductors, starting with basic electron-impurity scattering and electron localization with the goal of discussing hopping conductivity.
Reading: “Electronic Properties of Doped Semiconductors” by B. Shklovskii and A. Efros
Requirements: PHYS 322 (EM 2), PHYS 325 (QM 2), PHYS 329 (Stat Mech)
Exploration of Detectors used in Particle Physics Experiments with Brynn MacCoy
Particle physics experiments depend fundamentally on detectors to identify particles and observe their interactions and decays. We will explore operating principles and applications for detectors in particle physics, beginning briefly with historical methods like cloud chambers and then focusing on modern methods including:
• Semiconductor-based detectors
• Light generation detectors (scintillation and Cherenkov radiation)
• Gas/liquid ionization detectors
Areas of focus will be guided by student interest.
Reading: TBD
Prerequisites: PHYS 226, PHYS 324 (QM1), PHYS 321 & 322 (EM1&2)
Fundamentals of Thermoelectricty with Joshua Mutch
The Seebeck effect is the generation of a voltage difference across a material resulting from a temperature difference. The sign of the effect (positive or negative voltage), along with the magnitude of the voltage (known as the Seebeck coefficient or thermopower) can be accurately estimated by classical models for many materials. However, in some materials a classical model cannot explain the magnitude or sign of the effect, and a quantum model must be constructed. We will review the classical model for the Seebeck effect, and also examine materials that break this classical model.
Reading: "Fundamentals of Thermoelectricity" by K. Behnia
Requirements: PHYS 325 (QM 2) PHYS 329 (Stat Mech)
Group Theory in Condensed Matter Physics with Paul Malinowski
Group theory is a branch of mathematics that studies the properties of a certain algebraic structure called a group. One example of such a group is the set of symmetries (translational, rotational, inversion, time reversal, etc.) respected by a physical system. In a quantum solid, these symmetries largely determine many of the electronic properties, as well as the character of the many-body quantum mechanical ground state, and the formalism of group theory offers a powerful way of understanding this. This course will use group theoretical methods to explore the consequences of symmetry in solid state physics. Depending on interest and prior knowledge, this course can start from the basics or delve into more specialized, complex ideas.
Some examples of potential topics:
-Effects of symmetry on degeneracies
-Crystallographic point groups
-Crystal field splitting of atomic energy levels
-Consequences on experimentally measurable quantities
--Elasto- and magneto- resistance
--Raman spectroscopy
--X-ray diffraction
- *Landau theory of second order phase transitions* (this is one of the most important ideas in modern condensed matter physics and an essential starting point for thinking about symmetry-breaking ground states such as superconductivity, magnetism, charge density wave, etc)
Reading Material: Group Theory and Quantum Mechanics by Michael Tinkham
Required: Phys 325 (QM 2), PHYS 328 (Stat Mech)
Suggested: solid state/condensed matter physics, group theory
Information Processing in Living Systems with Michael Pun
Living organisms rely on environmental information to survive. Although the complexity of biological systems can appear daunting, the simplifying approach of theoretical physics offers a powerful platform to study quantitatively how organisms process information. From this platform, physicists have asked a number of questions including what are the limits to environmental sensing at the molecular level, how do cells use sensory information to differentiate, and how can an organism's traits be explained in an environmental context. We will examine a number of papers on how living systems interact with their environment ranging from the molecular scale to the evolutionary scale with a focus on how physicists approach problems and build models in a biological context.
Reading: TBD
Prerequisites: PHYS 224
Intro to Lattice QCD with Tyler Blanton
Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) is the theory of the strong nuclear force, i.e. how quarks and gluons interact and form hadrons (protons, pions, etc.) Unlike the electromagnetic force which falls off over long distances and can be studied using perturbation theory, the interaction between quarks becomes stronger as they are separated, making QCD a difficult theory to study analytically. However, it can be studied computationally via lattice QCD, in which spacetime is discretized into a lattice and computers are used to calculate physical quantities of interest (e.g. hadron masses). In this project, we will examine some of the major features of QCD (confinement, hadron resonances, transition amplitudes, etc.) and lattice QCD (correlation functions, path integrals, Monte Carlo methods, etc.) to learn about hadron physics from a theoretical/computational perspective.
Reading: TBD
Prerequisites: PHYS 225
Recommended (helpful for familiarity with concepts, but not required): PHYS 226, 228, 232, 325, 422
Intro to Solid State with Joseph Merritt
Quantum mechanics had become a pillar of modern physics, and is able to explain many surprising aspects of our world. One of the great applications for this has been in describing properties of materials we use every day. In this course, I hope to introduce the basics of solid state physics - the study of rigid materials - and discuss especially how the underlying quantum properties lead to important phenomena such as conductance and phonons.
Reading: David Tong's notes on Applications of Quantum Mechanics, especially parts 2 - 4.
Prerequisites: Phys 324 (Quantum 1)
Introduction to Superconductivity with Elliott Runburg
Superconductivity is characterized by a vanishing DC resistance and strong diamagnetism (Meissner effect) below a certain critical temperature. These phenomena can be related to the formation of Cooper pairs as a material enters a superconducting state. In the supercurrents, there is no resistance and so these generate no heat. In addition to these materials being theoretically interesting, they are important for technology we have today: large magnets are often made of superconductors to reduce dissipative heating and to reduce the power necessary to generate the currents creating the field. In this reading course, we will explore the physics of basic BCS superconductors and the interesting mechanisms behind Cooper pair formation.
Readings: Select chapters from Tinkham’s “Introduction to Superconductivity”, de Gennes’ “Superconductivity of Metals and Alloys”
Prerequisites: PHYS 225, PHYS 332 (EM 2), PHYS 328 (Stat Mech)
Suggested: PHYS 325, solid state
Quantum Entanglement with Trapped Ions with Jennifer Lilieholm
Quantum mechanics holds many mysteries, and behaves in a manner which is counterintuitive to the macroscopic world. One of the best known examples of this is quantum entanglement, where the state of one quantum particle becomes linked (or entangled) with the state of another. This project will follow experimental progress on entanglement, from Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen’s paper on the nature of quantum mechanics to its position today as an essential part of quantum computing, with a focus on trapped ion quantum computing.
Readings: Le Bellac’s “A Short Introduction to Quantum Information and Quantum Computation,” Papers on Molmer-Sorenson and Cirac-Zoller gates with trapped ions, Bell’s Inequality experiments
Prerequisites: PHYS 324, PHYS 325 (fine if taking concurrently)
Quantum Mechanics – Beyond State Vectors with David Rosser
The second quantum revolution is here! Sadly, the laws of physics are conspiring against us. Quantum things don’t like to stay quantum. We will discuss quantum entanglement, ideas of quantum information, density operators for mixed states, and dynamics and measurement on open systems with an eye towards understanding experiments being conducted with trapped ions, superconducting circuits, etc.
Reading: “Quantum Processes Systems, & Information” by Benjamin Schumacher, Michael Westmoreland
Prerequisites: PHYS 325 (Quantum 2), MATH 308 (Matrix Algebra) or MATH 340 (Abstract Linear Algebra)
Quantum Sensing with Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Diamond with Christian Pederson
Quantum systems are notoriously sensitive to environmental interactions, a feature that makes them particularly attractive as next generation sensors. In this course we will learn about a particular defect in diamond, the nitrogen-vacancy center, which has attracted considerable interest as a well-characterized quantum system with quantum coherence persisting at room temperature. Already, research groups have utilized the center in order to detect extremely weak electric fields, magnetic fields, temperature, and strain on the nm scale. We will explore interesting applications based on student interest with options including imaging the magnetic fields due to superconducting vortices, magnetic domains, action potentials in neural cells, current flowing through 2d materials and many more.
Readings: “Principles and Techniques of the Quantum Diamond Microscope”, Papers TBD based on student interest
Prerequisites: PHYS 322, PHYS 325
Research and Development in Quantum Computing with Nicholas Ruof
With Google declaring quantum supremacy in October 2019, the race to build efficient quantum computing devices is on and companies such as Microsoft, IBM, D-Wave, and Google are all in hot pursuit. In quantum computing, logical units are represented as quantum bits, or qubits. As opposed to classical bits, qubits have quantum mechanical properties, like superposition and entanglement, that would allow for efficient computing when a classical computer solving the same problem could take longer than our lifetimes or even longer than the age of the universe. This aspect alone will revolutionize many traits of classical computing such as cryptography, network security, and simulations of quantum systems among others. In this reading course, we will go through contemporary research in condensed matter experiment relevant to quantum computing applications.
Prerequisites: PHYS 321, PHYS 322, PHYS 324, PHYS 325
Recommended: PHYS 423