2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Science Department of Physics Graduate major in Physics
Superconductivity
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Physics
- Instructor(s)
- Sadashige Matsuo
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- PHY.C443
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
When superconductors are cooled to extremely low temperatures, the electrical resistance goes to zero and they show electrical and magnetic properties that are not seen in usual metals. Students will learn that the reason lies in quantum nature appearing on a macroscopic scale. In this course, after getting an overview of various properties of superconductivity, students will study the macroscopic description of superconductivity called the GL theory, the microscopic one called the BCS theory, electrodynamics of superconductivity, magnetic properties, such as, quantized flux in type-II superconductors: they will also study unconventional superconductivity and the latest topics related to superconductivity.
Course description and aims
[Learning outcomes] Students will learn fundamentals of physics on superconductivity, which is a macroscopic quantum phenomenon that appears at low temperatures.
[Theme] This course focuses on unusual electrical, magnetic, and thermodynamic properties that superconductors show at low enough temperatures. Students are expected to understand the underlying physics and learn how to describe them.
Keywords
zero resistance, Meissner effect, macroscopic quantum phenomenon, London equations, GL theory, BCS theory, quantized flux, type-I/type-II superconductors, Josephson effect, SQUID, unconventional superconductors
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Students are given reports related to the lecture to better understand the contents.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Properties of superconductivity and the BCS theory | Explain characteristic properties of superconductors. |
| Class 2 | Microscopic description of superconductivity - the BCS theory | Calculate the BCS ground-state energy. |
| Class 3 | Macroscopic (phenomenological) description of superconductivity - the GL theory | Explain how the GL theory describes the superconducting properties near Tc. |
| Class 4 | Magnetic properties of type-II superconductors | Explain why each magnetic flux in type-II superconductors is quantized and the flux lines form the lattice. |
| Class 5 | Josephson effect | Explain what is the SQUID and how to detect the tiny mangetic field with the device. |
| Class 6 | Low-dimensional superconductivity and anisotropic superconductivity | Explain KT transition of low-dimensional superconductors. |
| Class 7 | Superconducting qubit and superconducting circuits | Explain physics of the superconducting qubit. |
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.
Textbook(s)
To be specified by the instructor.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
To be specified by the instructor.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Based on reports.
Related courses
- PHY.C444 ： Quantum Transport
Prerequisites
No prerequisites.