EP 502 Superconductivity and Low temperature physics (Spring 2017-18)

EP 502 Superconductivity and Low temperature physics (Spring 2017-18)

Review 1:
Instructor name: Avinash Mahajan

Course Type: Honours / Elective

Pre-requisites: Introduction to CMP will help

Course Content: Heat Capacity ,Ginzburg Landau theory (in detail),  Essential BCS (Gap formation and occupation probabilities of cooper pairs ),  Josephson effect and SQUIDs, Dilution refrigerators
Books: Introduction to Superconductivity by Tinkham, Applied Superconductivity by Orlando and Delin

Lectures: Taught on blackboard, Although there is no attendance all the exam questions are from the material taught in class

Assignments: Some tutorials mostly based on what is taught in class

Exams and Grading: 2 Quizzes, 1 Term paper, Midsem and Endsem.

Pro-Tips: Very easy course if you attend all the classes and pay attention. All the questions asked are from the materials taught in the class.

Respondent: Rakshit Jain

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Review 2:

Instructor name: Avinash Mahajan

Course Type: Honours / Elective

Prerequisites: Nothing really, though basic knowledge of QM 1 and Electrodynamics is required

Course Content: London theory, Ginzburg-Landau, Josephson Junctions, BCS theory, Low temperature physics (achieving low temp and measurement)

Books: Introduction to Superconductivity by Tinkham

Lectures: Blackboard lectures, no attendance policy

Assignments: Ungraded assignments for practice

Exams and Grading: Quiz 1: 10% ; Midsem: 30% ; Quiz 2: 10 % ; Term Paper (of any topic from a list of topics) : 15 % ; Endsem: 35 %

Pro-Tips: The course is not too hard. Exams are straightforward applications of whatever that has been taught in class. So class notes would be really handy. An original write up of the term paper guarantees full marks along with an opportunity to learn. 

Personal Comments: The course is a decent introduction to conventional superconductivity. London, Ginzburg-Landau and Josephson junctions are covered in sufficient details and taught fairly well. BCS theory is not treated well and isn't really taught on a higher level. BCS theory wasn't taught well by him. Not much time was left to cover the low temperature physics part. but all in all, a decent course to learn the basics of conventional superconductivity. You have a chance to read about the recent advances in superconductivity yourself through the term paper.  

Respondent: Vaibhav Sharma

Note: This is a review to help you make a more informed choice about how to study for this course and/or choosing this course. While we've tried to keep it objective and complete, one must keep in mind that students have varying interests, methods of study, and the course itself changes from year to year.