Introduction. Coulomb blockade, quantum impurity models, Kondo effect

The first two lectures (May 5, May 12) focused on quantum impurity models, such as the Kondo model. Originally introduced to describe magnetic impurities in metals, these models have enjoyed a recent revival of interest, in connection with the physics of Coulomb blocking in nanostructures on the one hand, and in the context of the dynamic mean-field theory of systems with strong electronic correlations on the other. Two seminars were given in conjunction with these lectures, by Olivier Parcollet (IPhT, CEA-Saclay) on "Quantum impurity models: numerical methods and applications", and by Serge Florens (Institut Néel, CNRS, Grenoble) on "Exotic Kondo effects in nanostructures".