Quantum Materials: Superconductors

Course goals

** Goal 1:
Students will develop a foundational understanding of superconductivity, including zero resistance, the Meissner effect, flux quantization, Cooper pairs, and microscopic theoretical
descriptions.

** Goal 2:
Students will be familiar the underlying mechanisms responsible for conventional superconductivity, including the role of phonons, the Ginzburg-Landay theory, and the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory.


** Goal 3:
Students will get an introduction to advanced concepts in superconductivity, including non-conventional mechanisms, topological superconductivity, and potential applications in quantum technologies

Content

This course explores the phenomenon of superconductivity,
from its fundamental principles to its potential for revolutionizing
quantum technologies.  It aims at developing a physical understanding of how
superconductivity arises and manifests in various materials.

** Part I: Foundations of Superconductivity and phenomenological theories

We begin by examining the core phenomenology of superconductivity:
zero resistance, the expulsion of magnetic fields (Meissner effect),
and flux quantization. You will understand these defining
characteristics while building a framework based on phenomenological
models.

** Part II: Microscopic theory of uniform superconductors

Microscopic theories include the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS)
theory, which elucidates the role of Cooper pairs and predicts the
superconducting energy gap, as well as the Ginzburg-Landau theory,
which describes superconducting behavior in terms of an order
parameter.

** Part III:  Introduction to advanced Topics

In this section, we discuss the frontiers of superconductivity
research. We will survey non-conventional superconductors like
high-temperature cuprates, whose mechanisms remain a focus of intense
research. In addition, the field of topological superconductivity will be
introduced, including its implications for the search for Majorana
fermions.

Throughout the course, specific material systems will illustrate core
concepts, encompassing classic superconductors as well as modern
superconducting nanomaterials.

This course builds on the master course Fundamentals of
Quantum Materials (SK-MFUNQM; coordinator I. Swart) and should
be complemented by the courses Quantum Materials: Topological Matter
(SK-MQUTM; coordinator Z. Zanolli) and Magnetic Materials (SK-MMAMA;
coordinator M. Kamminga)

Indicative Program: 
Lecture 1: phenomenology of superconductivity, thermodynamics of the superconducting state
Lecture 2: Ginzburg-Landau Theory
Lecture 3 : Phonons 
Lecture 4: Electron-Phonon coupling
Lecture 5: Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) Theory of the Superconducting Ground State
Lecture 6: Excitations of the BCS wavefunction
Lecture 7: Beyond-BCS: unconventional superconductivity
Lecture 8: Beyond-BCS, Bogoliubov de Gennes equations and topological superconductivity, Q&A


Anonymous self-assessment before enrolling the course
This self-assessment tool is designed to help you gauge your readiness for the Quantum Materials: Superconductors course. It will point to key concepts necessary for success in the course, allowing you to identify areas for review.  
https://forms.office.com/e/CLZsbn1Uxg