Advanced Condensed Matter Theory
Summary of the requirements for an oral exam
At the oral exam, I will basically test whether you have studied and mastered the course material, e.g., by following the main steps or lines of arguments of some of the subjects that we have discussed in the course with you on the blackboard in my office. The breakquestions are not part of the official course material, so these are not part of the requirements for the exam either.
For the first part of the course, you should study chapter 1 sections 1.1. and 1.2 pages 1--29 of [BP] with the help of sections 1.1--1.15 of the syllabus. Pages 30-32 are essentially treated in a slightly different way in the syllabus, but you may still like to consult these pages too. Pages 33--45 of [BP] do not have to be studied, except that you should consult some of the results of their analysis for the brief discussion on page 42. Sections 1.16 and 1.17 are more self-contained; where appropriate we refer to small parts of sections 1.3 and 1.4 of [BP] that you should consult or study in detail. It suffices to read the rest of sections 1.3.1 and 1.4.1 and 1.4.2 of [BP] attentively. You can skip sections 1.3.2, 1.3.3, 1.4.3 and 1.4.4. Chapters 2 and 3 of the syllabus are completely selfcontained. You can skip appendix B on the BCS theory, which is included for those of you who are interested. You need to study appendix A only if you need to refresh your memory about second quantization.
I do consider the exercises to be an integral part of the course, even though the detailed technicalities of exercises like 1.21, 1.34, 1.35 and 2.3 will not be tested on the oral exam.
I advice those of you who need to do the exam to do this in the next few months --- experience shows that this will be the most efficient way for you to do the exam: the longer you'll wait the harder it becomes. I expect to be here in Leiden in the first half of 2000 for most of the time, so I should be able to make an appointment at a time and date that suits you. You can make an appointment by phone or email, during the break of the course, or by stopping by at my office. If for some reason you have to change the date at a later stage, then do not hesitate to contact me by phone or email.
The exams are held in my office, room 271 of the slanted Oort building, which is attached to the Huygens Laboratory (Niels Bohr weg 2) of Leiden University, where the lectures in Leiden have been given.
Wim van Saarloos
Instituut--Lorentz
November 15 1999
[Courses and classes] [Wim van Saarloos] [Instituut-Lorentz]