Nicola Spaldin: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2018

Award: The Golden Owl
Name Prof. Dr. Nicola Spaldin
FieldMaterials Theory
Address
Professur für Materialtheorie
ETH Zürich, HIT G 43.3
Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 27
8093 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 633 37 55
Fax+41 44 633 14 59
E-mailnicola.spaldin@mat.ethz.ch
DepartmentMaterials
RelationshipFull Professor

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
327-1202-00LSolid State Physics and Chemistry of Materials I Information 5 credits4GN. Spaldin
AbstractIn this course we study how the properties of solids are determined from the chemistry and arrangement of the constituent atoms, with a focus on materials that are not well described by conventional band theories because their behavior is governed by strong quantum-mechanical interactions.
ObjectiveElectronic properties and band theory description of conventional solids
Electron-lattice coupling and its consequences in functional materials
Electron-spin/orbit coupling and its consequences in functional materials
Structure/property relationships in strongly-correlated materials
ContentIn this course we study how the properties of solids are determined from the chemistry and arrangement of the constituent atoms, with a focus on materials that are not well described by conventional band theories because their behavior is governed by strong quantum-mechanical interactions. We begin with a review of the successes of band theory in describing many properties of metals, semiconductors and insulators, and we practise building up band structures from atoms and describing the resulting properties. Then we explore classes of systems in which the coupling between the electrons and the lattice is so strong that it drives structural distortions such as Peierls instabilities, Jahn-Teller distortions, and ferroelectric transitions. Next, we move on to strong couplings between electronic charge and spin- and/or orbital- angular momentum, yielding materials with novel magnetic properties. We end with examples of the complete breakdown of single-particle band theory in so-called strongly correlated materials, which comprise for example heavy-fermion materials, frustrated magnets, materials with unusual metal-insulator transitions and the high-temperature superconductors.
Lecture notesAn electronic script for the course is provided at https://eskript.ethz.ch/catalog/matl
LiteratureHand-outs with additional reading will be made available during the course and posted on the moodle page accessible through MyStudies
Prerequisites / Noticeall three of:

Grundlagen für Materialphysik, 327-0406-00L
Materialphysik I, 327-0407-00L
Materialphysik II, 327-0506-00L

or equivalent classes from another institution
327-1300-00LJoint Group Seminar Restricted registration - show details
Does not take place this semester.
Only for D-MATL doctoral students
0 credits1SM. Fiebig, N. Spaldin
AbstractSeminar for PhD students and researchers in condensed-matter physics.
ObjectiveImproving the interaction of researchers in the participating groups.
ContentPresentation and discussion of contemporary research.
Prerequisites / NoticeOwn scientific contributions.
402-0890-00LSeminars of the Platform for Advanced Scientific Computing (PASC)0 credits2SH. J. Herrmann, T. C. Schulthess, N. Spaldin
AbstractSeminars by invited speakers in the area of advanced scientific computing.
ObjectiveDiscussion of state of the art techniques and methodologies in scientific computing.
ContentThis course consists in a series of seminars by invited speakers on subjects of interest for the ``Platform for Advanced Scientific Computing''.
Lecture notesThere is no script.
LiteratureLiterature will be provided by the speakers in their respective presentations.
Prerequisites / NoticeParticipants should have experience on advanced scientific computing.