| Building upon the foundations outlined in second year quantum mechanics and many particle systems, this course examines topics out of phase transitions and non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Using a small handful of simple and elegant concepts, a diverse range of phenomena can be understood. Topics include non-ideal gases and phases, diffusion problems, quantum phase transitions and the concept of quasiparticles. The course examines these topics within contexts provided by a wide range of phenomena: van der Waal’s gases, pattern formation in biological systems, Bose-Einstein condensation of atoms, superfluidity in liquid Helium, and superconductivity in metals. |