Overview of basic experimental facts; London theory; BCS theory; symmetry of the order parameter; Ginzburg-Landau theory and magnetic properties of superconductors; quasiparticle excitations in superconductors: thermal and transport properties; macroscopic phase coherence phenomena.

There is no required textbook for the course. The main source of information will be the lecture notes. The students are encouraged to consult numerous textbooks on superconductivity available in the library, e.g. M. Tinkham, Introduction to Superconductivity; J. Schrieffer, Theory of Superconductivity; V. Mineev and K. Samokhin, Introduction to Unconventional Superconductivity.

Basic experimental facts and early (pre-BCS) theories.

Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory.

Phenomenological Ginzburg-Landau theory. Magnetic properties of superconductors.

Special topics: phase coherence and Josephson effect; unconventional pairing; Bogoliubov-de Gennes formalism; Andreev reflection.

Note: This list is tentative. Some topics may be removed, while others may be added.

3 assignments: 60% (20% each); assignments must be submitted by 5pm on the due date; penalty for late assignments: -25% per day, including Saturdays and Sundays;

final exam: 40%; a student will need to pass the final exam to pass the course.