PH40139: Phase transitions and critical phenomena
[Page last updated: 23 April 2025]
| Academic Year: | 2025/26 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Physics |
| Credits: | 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 120 |
| Level: | Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
| Period: |
- Semester 2
|
| Assessment Summary: | EXOB 100% |
| Assessment Detail: |
- PH52027 Written examination (EXOB 100%)
|
| Supplementary Assessment: |
- Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
|
| Requisites: |
|
| Learning Outcomes: |
After taking this unit the student should be able to:
perform mean field calculations of phase transitions;
define critical exponents and discuss scaling relations and universality classes;
describe in detail the principles of real-space renormalization.
|
| Synopsis: | You will deepen your knowledge of statistical mechanics, by learning about key concepts in the theory of phase transitions and critical phenomena, including the scaling hypothesis and the renormalisation group.
|
| Content: | Mean-field and Landau theory; spatial correlations; scale invariance at the critical point; critical exponents; divergent fluctuations and susceptibility at critical points; universality; real-space renormalisation group; dynamical and non-equilibrium critical phenomena; topological phase transitions and quantum phase transitions.
|
| Course availability: |
PH40139 is Compulsory on the following courses:
Department of Physics
- USPH-AFM16 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics (Year 4)
- USPH-AFM17 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics with Research placement (Year 4)
PH40139 is Optional on the following courses:
Department of Physics
- USPH-AFM02 : MPhys(Hons) Physics (Year 4)
- USPH-AFM04 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Research placement (Year 4)
- USPH-AAM12 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Study year abroad (Year 5)
- USPH-AKM03 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Professional Placement (Year 5)
- USPH-AKM04 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Professional and Research Placements (Year 5)
- USPH-AFM10 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics (Year 4)
- USPH-AFM11 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with Research placement (Year 4)
- USPH-AAM14 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with Study year abroad (Year 5)
- USPH-AKM10 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with Professional Placement (Year 5)
- USPH-AKM11 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with Professional and Research Placements (Year 5)
- USPH-AAM15 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with Study year abroad and Research Placement (Year 5)
- USPH-AAM13 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Study year abroad and Research Placement (Year 5)
|
Notes: - This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2025/26 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2026/27 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2025/26.
- 好色tv and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
- Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
- Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.
|
