From critical phenomena to black holes (fall 2020)

This Fall's Delta ITP Course Advanced Topics in Theoretical Physics aimed at advanced Master’s students, PhD and postdoctoral researchers, is built around the general theme of From critical phenomena to black holes.
Lectures will take place on Monday's at 11:15-13:00, followed by a study/exercise session 13:45- end.
The course will be fully online.
All students will receive a link to follow the online lectures. The course will be divided into three 5-week modules; for each one there are four lectures (2hrs each) and four exercise sessions (4hrs each). At the end of the module there is an exam. All exams will be graded with a pass or fail. You need to pass all three exams to receive credit for the course.
Please fill in the registration form before the course begins, even if you do not plan to take the course for credit.
We cannot process your grade or send important notices if you do not register ahead of time.
Travel Cost Reimbursement:
Students who do not have an OV-card from the Dutch government can have their travel costs reimbursed from Delta ITP.
Please contact your local organizer (below) for details.

  • Module 1:

    Lars Fritz (UU)
    Renormalization group and critical phenomena
    Lectures: Sept, 7, 14, 21, 28
    Exam: Oct 5

    In this module we discuss critical phenomena as encountered at and in the vicinity of (quantum) phase transitions. The language to discuss these phase transitions is the renormalization group. I will introduce it in the condensed matter spirit of the Wilsonian renormalization group but highlight the connections with the high-energy formulation. This course will discuss concepts such as renormalization group transformation, flow, fixed points, and their associated properties. Prerequisites for this course are statistical physics, Landau theory, and classical and/or quantum field theory.

  • Module 2:

    Koenraad Schalm (UL)
    The AdS/CFT Correspondence and Applications
    Lectures: Oct 12, 19, 26, Nov 2
    Exam: Nov 9

    The anti-de Sitter/Conformal Field theory correspondence provides a unique novel perspective on critical phenomena at second order quantum phase transitions in systems with spatial dimensions d>1. The first half of these lectures will provide technical background to apply the so called “holographic” techniques of the correspondence. The second half discusses the application to quantum phase transitions in condensed matter: how spontaneous symmetry breaking in a quantum critical system is similar and different to the standard case, the notion of semi-local quantum liquids and their connection to non-Fermi liquids and strange metals.
    These lectures will be based on selections from:

    • J. Zaanen, Y.Liu, Y-W.Sun, K. Schalm, Holographic duality in condensed matter physics, Cambridge University Press.

    Additional references are:

    • J. Erdmenger, Introduction to gauge gravity duality, Chapters 1,2,4,5,6.
    • S.A. Hartnoll, Lectures on holographic methods for condensed matter physics, Class. Quant. Grav. 26, 224002 (2009).
    • N. Iqbal, H. Liu and M. Mezei, Lectures on holographic non-Fermi liquids and quantum
      phase transitions
  • Module 3:

    Alejandra Castro (UvA)
    Advanced Topics in General Relativity
    Lectures: Nov 16, 23, 30, Dec 7
    Exam: Dec 14

    Abstract: In this course, we will cover advanced topics in general relativity that are important for our modern understanding of the holographic principle and theoretical aspects of black holes. We will discuss surface charges in gravitation, black hole thermodynamics, and holographic aspects of lower-dimensional gravity. I will assume students have a basic knowledge of general relativity, at the level of Sean Carroll’s “Spacetime and Geometry” book, and a reasonable background on quantum field theory.

  • Contact:

    Dr. Lars Fritz
    Institute for Theoretical Physics
    Utrecht University
    Princetonplein 5
    3584 CC Utrecht
    tel: +31 30 253 3880
    e-mail: l.fritz@uu.nl

    Prof. Koenraad Schalm
    Instituut-Lorentz for Theoretical Physics
    Leiden University
    Niels Bohrweg 2
    2335 CA Leiden
    email: kschalm@lorentz.leidenuniv.nl

    Dr. Wouter Waalewijn
    Institute for Theoretical Physics
    University of Amsterdam
    Science Park 904
    1098 XH Amsterdam
    tel: +31 (0)20 525 3204
    e-mail: w.j.waalewijn@uva.nl

    Administrative matters:
    Mariëlle Hilkens
    Institute for Theoretical Physics
    Utrecht University
    Princetonplein 5
    3584 CC Utrecht
    tel: +31 30 253 5906
    e-mail: m.e.t.hilkens@uu.nl