Quantum Theory of Matter 2

The course aims to introduce students to the physics of condensed matter and
its interaction with the electromagnetic radiation. The main topics addressed
are the electronic bands in solids, the magnetic behavior of the
matter with special attention to phenomena of magnetic ordering,
the phenomenology of superconductivity and the concept of quantum interference.
Furthermore, a part of the course is aimed at the study of the linear radiation-matter
interaction, at the description of the basic principles of laser action and the
properties of coherent radiation.

At the end of the course the student is expected to acquire the following knowledge:

1. The student will be able to describe the formation of the electronic band structure of solids;
2. He will be able to characterize experimental observations on the dynamics
of electrons in solids, both in electric fields and in magnetic fields;
3. He will be able to describe the magnetic behavior of the condensed matter, in particular
regarding the phenomena of magnetic ordering;
4. He will know the various aspects of the phenomenology of superconducting materials,
the microscopic mechanism of superconductivity and the formation of Cooper pairs;
5. He will be able to describe the behavior of Josephson junctions and SQUID devices,
with particular regard to quantum interference in the presence of a magnetic field;
6. He will know the basic principles of the linear interaction between electromagnetic
radiation and matter in terms of complex dielectric constant;
7. He will be able to interpret the experimental observations on the optical properties
of the condensed matter with simple classical and quantum models;
8. He will know how to describe the principles of radiation amplification and laser action
with rate equations models;
9. He will be able to characterize the properties of various types of lasers, continuous
or pulsed, and of the coherence of the emitted radiation;