2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Science Undergraduate major in Physics
Condensed Matter Physics I
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Physics
- Instructor(s)
- Takuya Satoh / Jiang Pu
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- PHY.C341
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Apr 2, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course provides a comprehensive view of the central concepts of following topics in physics; quantum theory of electrical conduction in metallic systems, semiconductor properties, electron spin and various magnetism, superconductivity, and its development into atomic-layer materials and topological materials.
Students will learn about novel phenomena that occur in a wide variety of materials and the basic physical concepts behind these phenomena.
Course description and aims
Condensed matter physics deals with the various physical properties of condensed phases of matter. The goal of this course is to provide students understanding of basic concepts of several hot and important aspects of modern condensed matter physics.
Keywords
metals, semiconductors, junctions/interfaces, magnetism, superconductivity, atomic-layer materials, and topological materials.
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
We will discuss the subjects listed below.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Basis of electric conduction: Fermi gas, Group velocity, Effective mass, Hole | Students must understand relation between electron motion in solids and band structure. |
| Class 2 | Basis of electric conduction: Drude model, Boltzmann equation | Understand basic formulation of electric conduction. |
| Class 3 | Hall effect, Thermoelectric effect | Understand electric conduction in a magnetic field or temperature difference. |
| Class 4 | Band structure of semiconductors | Understand band structure of semiconductors. |
| Class 5 | Intrinsic semiconductors, Extrinsic semiconductors | Understand factors determining electric conduction in semiconductors. |
| Class 6 | p-n junctions, Heterostructures | Understand electric conduction in junctions between different materials. |
| Class 7 | MOS structures and transistors, Metal-semiconductor contacts | Understand MOS structures and metal-semiconductor contacts of transistors. |
| Class 8 | Various magnetic properties | Understand the basic characteristics of various magnetic properties and their origins. |
| Class 9 | Electron spin, Magnetic moment, Hund's rule | Understand the magnetic moment due to electron spins and orbitals, which is the origin of magnetism, and Hund's rule. |
| Class 10 | Paramagnetism and diamagnetism | Understand the paramagnetism and diamagnetism. |
| Class 11 | Exchange interaction and ferromagnetism・antiferromagnetism | Understand exchange interactions as the origin of ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism |
| Class 12 | Superconductivity properties | Understand the basic properties of superconductivity. |
| Class 13 | Theory of superconductivity | Understand the basics of Ginzburg-Landau and BCS theories describing superconductivity. |
| Class 14 | Josephson effect and superconductivity applications | Understand the Josephson effect and its applications. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Course materials are provided during class.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Japanese textbook is recommended as written above.
〔Ho〕 ： S. M. Sze, Semiconductor Devices: Physics and Technology, Wiley (2012).
〔Satoh〕： T. Sakudo「Solid State Physics - Magnetism and Superconductivity」Shokabo (2002).
Y. Ie「Superconductivity」AsakuraShoten (2019).
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students' course scores are mainly based on final exam or final report.
Related courses
- PHY.C340 ： Basic Solid State Physics
- ZUB.Q204 ： Quantum Mechanics I
- ZUB.S205 ： Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics I
- PHY.C342 ： Condensed Matter Physics II
Prerequisites
Students must have successfully completed PHY.C340, ZUB.Q204, and ZUB.S205.