87927 - COMPUTATIONAL MATERIAL PHYSICS

Anno Accademico 2022/2023

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

At the end of the course the student will become familiar with different computational methodologies used to model and understand the properties of materials, with emphasis on first principles methods. The content of the course includes: basic ideas and concepts of numerical simulations; introduction to numerical solution of the one-body and many-body Schrödinger equation; Hartree-Fock and density-functional theory; electronic structure methods. Selected examples of properties of materials predicted from electronic structure schemes will be presented and discussed theoretically, but also through practical computational exercises. The student will be able to test the applicability of the various computational tools to diverse problems through the implementation and execution of model computer programs.

Contenuti

0. Introduction

Brief introduction to numerical simulations and basic principles of quantum mechanics necessary for the solution of the Schrödinger equation for a system of many electrons.

1. Numerical solution of the Schrödinger (1 particle)

1.1 Direct integration: Shooting method

1.2 Variational approach

1.3 Machine Learning

2. The many body problem (atoms & molecules)

2.1 The many-body Hamiltonian

2.2 Atoms and molecules

2.3 The Hartree-Fock method

2.4 The Density Functional Theory

3. Electrons in a periodic potential: electronic structure schemes

3.1 Kronig-Penney model

3.2 The tight-binding method

3.3 The Augmented plane wave method

3.4 The pseudopotential method

4. Materials & Hands-on

Application of electronic structure methods for the calculation of properties of materials: theory and practical calculations.

Computational lab using the Vienna Ab Initio Simulation Package (VASP). This part of the course will be developed in the last 4 weeks with 4 meetings (4 hours each)

4.0 VASP: basics (input & output)

4.1 Atoms, molecules and solids

4.2 The band gap problem: metal, insulator, semimetal

Band structure and density of states

4.4 Optional (1). Magnetism: long-range ordering and exchange interactions

4.5 Optional (2). Optical, dielectric and phonon properties

Testi/Bibliografia

J.M Thijssen, Computational Physics, CAMBRIDGE

Marvin L. Cohen & Steven G. Louie Fundamentals of Condensed Matter Physics, CAMBRIDGE

R.M. Martin, Electronic Structure: Basic Theory and Practical Methods, CAMBRIDGE

VASP Manual

Metodi didattici

Front lectures, practical sessions (computational lab), exrecises

In considerazione della tipologia di attività e dei metodi didattici adottati, la frequenza di questa attività formativa richiede la preventiva partecipazione di tutti gli studenti ai moduli 1 e 2 di formazione sulla sicurezza nei luoghi di studio, [https://elearning-sicurezza.unibo.it/] in modalità e-learning

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

Written project reports on the lab activity and oral exam.

Oral exam: typically 3 questions on the three different part of the program

Lab reports: The student should write 4 brief reports (~2 pages) on the 4 lab activities. The report for one specific lab project should be handed-in before the next lab session (report on lab-day1 handed-in before lab-day2).

Alternatively, the student could decide to develop a specific project to present and discuss during the oral exam. In this case the oral exam will involve the discussion of the project and one more question on a topic not related to the project.

The teacher will provide a list of possible projects. Most of the projects will focus on advanced application of the VASP but the student could also decide to choose purely theoretical projects (elaborations of a specific theories or specific equations relevant to the field of computational materials science) or the implementation of a computer code.

Strumenti a supporto della didattica

Blackboard, Slides, Llive computational examples (laptop), computational lab.

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Cesare Franchini