Enquiry for Science Major/Minor/Programme Requirements
PHYS7552 Condensed matter physics (6 credits) Academic Year 2026
Offering Department Physics Quota ---
Course Co-ordinator Prof S Z Zhang, Physics < shizhong@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Prof S Z Zhang,Physics)
Course Objectives This course introduces many-body physics in quantum matter. Systems consisting of many particles (bosons or fermions) display novel collective phenomena that individual particles do not have, for example, ferromagnetism and superfluidity. It aims to introduce students the general principles behind these phenomena, such as elementary excitations, spontaneous symmetry breaking, adiabatic theorems, emergent topological phases of matter, etc. Theoretical language useful in the interpretation of experiments, such as linear response theory and response functions, will be discussed. This course is intended for both experimentalists and theorists. Students who would like to take this course are assumed to have sufficient knowledge on quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics.
Course Contents & Topics This course will focus on the phenomena of emergent many-body states that require not only the effect of quantum statistics but also that of inter-particle interaction. Examples include: Ferromagnetism, Fermi liquid, superfluidity, superconductivity, and the quantum Hall states. Some general themes related to these quantum states, such as elementary excitation, Ginzburg-Landau description, spontaneous symmetry breaking, and topological phases of matter will be discussed.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 understand the general principle of spontaneous symmetry breaking
CLO 2 understand the basic properties of superfluidity and superconductivity and their Ginzburg-Landau descriptions
CLO 3 understand the many-body phenomena based on many-body wave functions and can describe the elementary excitations on top of it
CLO 4 apply response function formalism to understand simple experiments and carry out analysis based on analytic properties of response functions
CLO 5 understand the basics of quantum Hall effects
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 Pass in PHYS3550 and PHYS4351 and PHYS4551.
This course is mutually exclusive with PHYS8552.
Course Status with Related Major/Minor /Professional Core 2026 Major in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2026 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2026 Minor in Astronomy ( Disciplinary Elective )
2026 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2025 Major in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2025 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2025 Minor in Astronomy ( Disciplinary Elective )
2025 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Major in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Minor in Astronomy ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Minor in Astronomy ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
Course to PLO Mapping 2026 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2026 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2025 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2025 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2024 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2024 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2023 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2023 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
Offer in 2026 - 2027 Y        2nd sem    Examination No Exam     
Offer in 2027 - 2028 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrate thorough mastery at an advanced level of extensive knowledge and skills required for attaining all the course learning outcomes. Show strong analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, with evidence of original thought, and ability to apply knowledge to a wide range of complex, familiar and unfamiliar situations. Apply highly effective organizational and presentational skills.
B Demonstrate substantial command of a broad range of knowledge and skills required for attaining at least most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to familiar and some unfamiliar situations. Apply effective organizational and presentational skills.
C Demonstrate general but incomplete command of knowledge and skills required for attaining most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to most familiar situations. Apply moderately effective organizational and presentational skills.
D Demonstrate partial but limited command of knowledge and skills required for attaining some of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some coherent and logical thinking, but with limited analytical and critical abilities. Show limited ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Apply limited or barely effective organizational and presentational skills.
Fail Demonstrate little or no evidence of command of knowledge and skills required for attaining the course learning outcomes. Lack of analytical and critical abilities, logical and coherent thinking. Show very little or no ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Organization and presentational skills are minimally effective or ineffective.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Lecture-based course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Lectures 36.0
Tutorials 12.0
Reading / Self study 80.0
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Assignments 40.0 1,2,3,4,5
Essay 60.0 1,2,3,4,5
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 James F. Annett, Superconductivity, Superfluids, and Condensates, Oxford, 2004
D. Pines and N. Nozieres, Theory of Quantum Liquids, in two volumes, Westview Press, 1994
A.J. Leggett, Quantum Liquids, Oxford, 2006
P. Chaikin and T. Lubensky, Principles of Condensed Matter Physics, Cambridge, 2000
M. Tinkham, Introduction to Superconductivity, 2nd Edition, Dover, 1996
P. de. Gennes, Superconductivity of Metals and Alloys, Westview Press, 1999
D. Yoshioka, The Quantum Hall Effect, Springer, 2002
R.E. Prangle and S. Girvin, The Quantum Hall Effect, Springer, 1989
J.K. Jain, Composite Fermions, Cambridge, 2007
X.-G. Wen, Quantum Field Theory of Many-Body Systems : From the Origin of Sound to an Origin of Light and Electrons, Oxford Graduate Texts, 2007
Course Website http://moodle.hku.hk
Additional Course Information


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