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Condensed Matter Physics (PHYC30024)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
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About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject will introduce basic concepts in Condensed Matter Physics, the physics of solids and liquids, from a theoretical and experimental perspective. In particular, it will address the most fundamental concepts and techniques which are required to gain a basic understanding of materials. These concepts and techniques include crystal structure, reciprocal space, adiabatic approximation, free electrons, electrons in a periodic potential, insulators, conductors, semi-conductors and mean-field theory. The subject further aims to introduce some of the most basic experimental techniques in solid state physics and material research. Finally, this subject will provide a phenomenological introduction to one of the most fascinating states of matter: superconductors.
Intended learning outcomes
On completing this subject, students should be able to:
- Classify crystals, identify their symmetries and explain the notion of point and space groups;
- Demonstrate an understanding of how to model the solid state;
- Distinguish between conductors, insulators and semi-conductors with respect to their electronic properties;
- Apply Bloch's theorem and understand the notion of band structures;
- Demonstrate understanding of the phenomenology of superconductors.
Generic skills
- analyse how to solve a problem by applying fundamental laws to more complicated situations
- apply abstract concepts to real world situations
- solve relatively complicated problems using approximations
- participate effectively in group discussions
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
All four of:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PHYC30016 | Electrodynamics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
PHYC20014 | Theoretical Physics 2 | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
PHYC30018 | Quantum Physics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST20009 | Vector Calculus |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PHYC30020 | Quantum Systems | No longer available |
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Additional details
Assessment tasks have been allocated with regards to the total time that students are expected to devote to each, including preparation, private study and writing. The subject involves approximately 126 hours of independent study and 44 hours of contact time involving lectures and tutorials; 170 hours in total.
There are two written assignments, each of which will require approximately 20 hours of preparation per assignment, study and writing to complete, so that the assessment of these corresponds to 30% (15% per assignment) of the total for the subject (40 hours out of 130 hours). The first assignment must be submitted by 5pm on the Friday of Teaching Week 5 and the second assignment by 5pm on the Friday of Teaching Week 11. The remainder of the time allocated to independent study, 94 hours, is deemed to be preparation for the final three hour written examination that will be held during the Examination Period. This examination contributes 70% towards the final assessment.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Stephan Rachel Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total of 44 hours: 36 hours lectures (3 x 1 hour lectures per week) and 8 hours a mixture of problem-solving classes and computational lab (four 2-hours classes in weeks 3,5,7,9). Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 14 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020
Time commitment details
The total time commitment for this subject is 170 hours. Of this, 36 hours are lectures and 8 hours a mixture of problem-solving classes and computational lab. It might be advantageous to organise the problem-solving classes/computational lab in blocks of 2 hours in week 3, 5, 7 and 9. The remaining 126 hours are to be devoted to independent study distributed uniformly throughout the teaching and non-teaching periods of the Semester. Students should allocate approximately 40 hours to the study, preparation and writing of two assignments that each contribute 15% to the final mark for the subject. Approximately 86 hours should be allocated to independent study of the subject material and preparation for the final three hour examination. The final examination is to be held in the Examination Period and contributes 70% to the total assessment.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
to be confirmed
Last updated: 3 November 2022