Superconductivity and the Higgs Field - From Quantum Mechanics to Particle Physics

Overview

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Explore the fascinating connection between superconductivity and the Higgs field in this nearly 5-hour comprehensive physics video. Begin with a thorough introduction to superconductivity, covering its discovery by Onnes, the Meissner Effect, and London equations, before delving into Type-II Superconductivity and the Ginzburg-Landau Model. Progress through advanced concepts including BCS Theory, Anderson-Higgs mechanism, and Nambu-Goldstone modes, ultimately connecting these principles to the electroweak model and the Higgs field. Master complex physics concepts through detailed explanations of gauge transformations, mass acquisition mechanisms, and particle interactions, concluding with discussions on the Higgs boson and vacuum decay. Supplementary materials, including Video Notes PDF and Animation Python codes, are available through the creator's Patreon, while referenced books by Griffiths, Tinkham, and Quigg provide additional context for deeper understanding.

Syllabus

0:00 Intro, We're Living in a Superconductor
14:15 Discovery, Onnes
21:03 Meissner Effect
25:27 London Eqs.
45:30 Type-II Superconductivity
55:16 Ginzburg-Landau Model
58:00 GL alpha, beta, and SSB
1:13:11 GL Kinetic and Magnetic Terms
1:17:39 GL Equations
1:22:09 Coherence Length
1:28:19 The Flux Quantum!
1:38:56 Flux Penetration
1:48:29 BCS Theory
1:54:11 Anderson-Higgs Overview
1:59:10 Nambu-Goldstone Modes
2:04:49 Helmholtz Decomposition
2:08:26 Local U1 Transformation
2:14:16 Gauge-Covariant Derivative
2:21:39 Massive A in the U-Gauge
2:28:55 The Masochist Gauge
2:34:38 Transverse & Longitudinal Modes
2:40:32 Meissner, Revisited
2:43:11 Amplitude Mode in psi
2:45:04 SU2 and U1
3:01:01 Four Forces
3:12:42 Electroweak Model
3:29:56 The Higgs Field
3:43:31 Higgs Mechanism
3:48:00 W Mass
3:56:57 Z Mass
4:03:51 U1_em
4:08:35 Gell-Mann Nishijima
4:22:47 Yukawa Couplings
4:26:27 The Higgs Boson!
4:41:42 What even is the Higgs Field?!
4:48:31 Vacuum Decay