- UCAS course code
- F305
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Master of Physics (MPhys)
MPhys Physics
Join a physics Department of international renown that offers great choice and flexibility, leading to master's qualification.
- Typical A-level offer: A*A*A including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: A*AA including specific subjects
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: AAA including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 38 points overall with 7,7,6 at HL, including specific requirements
Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £36,500 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.
For information about scholarships and bursaries please visit our undergraduate student finance pages and our Department funding pages .
Course unit details:
Superconductors and Superfluids
Unit code | PHYS40451 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 10 |
Unit level | Level 4 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
Superconductors and Superfluids
Pre/co-requisites
Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Statistical Mechanics | PHYS20352 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Applications of Quantum Physics | PHYS30101 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Condensed Matter Physics | PHYS30051 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Aims
To describe and explain the unique properties of superconductors and superfluids and to show how they exhibit quantum mechanical phenomena on a macroscopic scale.
Learning outcomes
Syllabus
1. Weakly interacting Bose gases, Bose-Einstein condensation, ground state and excitations.
(2 lectures)
2. Liquid 4He and 3He, properties of superfluid 4He, macroscopic wave function, quantized circulation and vortices, excitations, Landau criterion for superfluidity, two-fluid hydrodynamics, first and second sound.
(6 lectures)
3. Microscopic theory of superconductivity, Cooper problem, elements of BCS theory, excitations, thermodynamic properties.
(6 lectures)
4. Superconductors, persistent current and Meissner effect, evidence for energy gap, London electrodynamics and penetration depth, thermodynamics and critical field.
(4 lectures)
5. Ginzburg-Landau theory and coherence length, type I and type II behaviour, flux quantization, vortex state, flux pinning and applications.
(4 lectures)
6. Weakly coupled superconductors, Josephson effect, dc SQUID and applications.
(2 lectures)
Assessment methods
Method | Weight |
---|---|
Written exam | 100% |
Feedback methods
Feedback will be available on students' comments on examples sheets, and model answers will be issued.
Recommended reading
Tilley, D.R. & Tilley, J. Superfluidity and Superconductivity, (Bristol: Hilger 1990);
Annett, J.F. Superconductivity, Superfluids and Condensates (Oxford 2004);
Schmidt, V.V. The Physics of Superconductors: Introduction to Fundamentals and Applications, (Springer 1997);
Supplementary reading will be suggested throughout the course
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Assessment written exam | 1.5 |
Lectures | 24 |
Independent study hours | |
---|---|
Independent study | 74.5 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Andrei Golov | Unit coordinator |