Physics

GENERAL OBJECTIVES: The main objective of the course is to illustrate the characteristics of some of the best known disordered models and to introduce the approximations and analytical techniques that allow their study in statistical mechanics. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: A - Knowledge and understanding OF 1) To know the main disordered models, such as dilute ferromagnets, ferromagnets with random external field, and spin glasses OF 2) To understand the different physical behaviors that arise as a result of the introduction of quenched disorder (slowing down of the dynamics, metastability, presence of many thermodynamic states). OF 3) To know the main techniques of statistical mechanics (mean-field approximations, replica and cavity methods) that allow the analytical study of models with disorder. B - Application skills OF 4) To know how to apply an analytical technique (mean-field approximation, replica and cavity method) to a given Hamiltonian to study its physical behavior. C - Autonomy of judgment OF 5) Be able to recognize to which class of disordered systems a given Hamiltonian belongs. D - Communication skills OF 6) Ability to present the course topics orally in a non-technical language that allows understanding even by those who have not yet taken the course. E - Ability to learn OF 7) To be able to read scientific texts and articles in order to independently investigate the topics introduced during the course.