Seeking advice on how to study condensed matter theory

[physicsxanime]

TL;DR Summary: I am asking for how to study CMT

Any advice in connecting concepts and building intuition for condensed matter? Sometimes I can do some problems operationally, but I can't see connection between different problems and doesn't have a mental model or intuition?
I can think of read more books and do problem. What else would you advice? Especially for research frontier when there are no problem set
Any help will be appreciated

 

[physicsxanime]

For context:
I will work on more or less green's function calculations of strongly coupled electrons/phonons systems in the future

 

[CrysPhys]

What is your educational background in physics and math?

 

[physicsxanime]

I have a standard undergrad background + some grad experience. (I switched from cosmology when I get my master to CMT).
Basically, I am fine with quantum mechanics, I took QFT before but quite rusty.
As for math, I am fine with complex analysis, differential equations, no good on group theory, topology and differential geometry.

 

[pines-demon]

TL;DR Summary: I am asking for how to study CMT

Any advice in connecting concepts and building intuition for condensed matter? Sometimes I can do some problems operationally, but I can't see connection between different problems and doesn't have a mental model or intuition?
I can think of read more books and do problem. What else would you advice? Especially for research frontier when there are no problem set
Any help will be appreciated

It is indeed patchy. Any book that you will take (Mahan, Fetter&Walecka, Aschroft&Mermin) will have different systems to study in each chapter because condensed matter is huge and there are many technicalities.

 

[hutchphd]

Also the undergraduate texts are sometimes quite dissimilar in approach and in presumptions about your knowledge. So find a few texts you like and use them predominantly. Personally I like Ashcroft and Mermin and Charles Kittel (although my Kittel is on overdue loan to a former colleague, I suddenly realize!)
I always advise "center out" self-studying. So figure out a specific idea or system you wish to understand well and fill in your knowledge around that This will connect you eventually to all of physics For instance, as a sophomore I had a very good lab section about Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. I became familiar with some of the nuances and that became a kind of touchstone for me going forward. There was also an experiment using Laue Xray diffraction which similarly motivated me. Good QM, EM and maths background is required to keep from being inundated in such a pursuit.