Course Schedule and Catalog

Department: Physics and Astronomy

Meeting: 1:30PM - 2:50PM TR FULLY ONLINE (25-JAN-2021 - 30-APR-2021) 

Session: Full Term

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Language of Instruction: Taught in English

Method of Instruction: Online

Credit Hours: 3

 

Prerequisites: PHYS 521

Section Max Enrollment: 19

Section Enrolled: 5

Enrollment data as of: 29-MAY-2023 9:19PM

 

 

Final Exam: GR Course-Dept Schedules Exam

 

Description: Topology plays an increasingly important role in modern quantum physics, and its applications to a variety of topics range from the theory of liquid crystals to topological defects in quantum field theory. This course will introduce some key notions from topology, such as homotopy and homology, and differential geomery and discuss their applications in quantum physics, from the theory of vortices in superconductors, to monopoles in non-Abelian gauge theories, to instantons in Yang—Mills theory. The course also covers the concepts of topological insulators and superconductors that have become an important part of the vocabulary of modern condensed matter physics. The course may be useful for students pursuing research in condensed matter and AMO physics, as well as high-energy physicists interested in topological defects in quantum field theory.