Gianni Blatter: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2018

Name Prof. em. Dr. Gianni Blatter
FieldTheoretical physics
Address
Institut für Theoretische Physik
ETH Zürich, HIT K 43.3
Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 27
8093 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 633 25 68
E-mailjohann.blatter@itp.phys.ethz.ch
DepartmentPhysics
RelationshipProfessor emeritus

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
402-0101-00LThe Zurich Physics Colloquium Information 0 credits1KR. Renner, G. Aeppli, C. Anastasiou, G. Blatter, S. Cantalupo, C. Degen, G. Dissertori, K. Ensslin, T. Esslinger, J. Faist, M. Gaberdiel, T. K. Gehrmann, G. M. Graf, R. Grange, J. Home, S. Huber, A. Imamoglu, P. Jetzer, S. Johnson, U. Keller, K. S. Kirch, S. Lilly, L. M. Mayer, J. Mesot, B. Moore, D. Pescia, A. Refregier, A. Rubbia, T. C. Schulthess, M. Sigrist, A. Vaterlaus, R. Wallny, A. Wallraff, W. Wegscheider, A. Zheludev, O. Zilberberg
AbstractResearch colloquium
Objective
402-0501-00LSolid State Physics0 credits1SA. Zheludev, G. Blatter, C. Degen, K. Ensslin, D. Pescia, M. Sigrist, A. Wallraff
AbstractResearch colloquium
Objective
402-0800-00LThe Zurich Theoretical Physics Colloquium Information 0 credits1KO. Zilberberg, C. Anastasiou, G. Blatter, M. Gaberdiel, T. K. Gehrmann, G. M. Graf, S. Huber, P. Jetzer, L. M. Mayer, B. Moore, R. Renner, T. C. Schulthess, M. Sigrist, University lecturers
AbstractResearch colloquium
ObjectiveThe Zurich Theoretical Physics Colloquium is jointly organized by the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. Its mission is to bring both students and faculty with diverse interests in theoretical physics together. Leading experts explain the basic questions in their field of research and communicate the fascination for their work.
402-0861-00LStatistical Physics10 credits4V + 2UG. Blatter
AbstractThe lecture focuses on classical and quantum statistical physics. Various techniques, cumulant expansion, path integrals, and specific systems are discussed: Fermions, photons/phonons, Bosons, magnetism, van der Waals gas. Phase transitions are studied in mean field theory (Weiss, Landau). Including fluctuations leads to critical phenomena, scaling, and the renormalization group.
ObjectiveThis lecture gives an introduction into the the basic concepts and applications of statistical physics for the general use in physics and, in particular, as a preparation for the theoretical solid state physics education.
ContentThermodynamics, three laws of thermodynamics, thermodynamic potentials, phenomenology of phase transitions.
Classical statistical physics: micro-canonical-, canonical-, and grandcanonical ensembles, applications to simple systems.
Quantum statistical physics: single particle, ideal quantum gases, fermions and bosons, statistical interaction.
Techniques: variational approach, cumulant expansion, path integral formulation.
Degenerate fermions: Fermi gas, electrons in magnetic field.
Bosons: photons and phonons, Bose-Einstein condensation.
Magnetism: Ising-, XY-, Heisenberg models, Weiss mean-field theory.
Van der Waals gas-liquid transition.
Landau theory of phase transitions, first- and second order, tricritical.
Fluctuations: field theory approach, Gauss theory, self-consistent field, Ginzburg criterion.
Critical phenomena: scaling theory, universality.
Renormalization group: general theory and applications to spin models (real space RG), phi^4 theory (k-space RG), Kosterlitz-Thouless theory.
Lecture notesLecture notes available in English.
LiteratureNo specific book is used for the course. Relevant literature will be given in the course.