TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE

Physics 423:  Introduction to Solid State Physics

Autumn 2007: Professor Olmstead


Last Update:  12/07/07


DATE
Reading
Notes
Topics
Homework
1
Thu 9/27
Ch. 3A: 49-73
LN01
Introduction.  Crystal Binding.  Covalent, van der Waals, Ionic, Hydrogen, Metallic binding

2
Tue 10/2
Ch. 1: 3-22
LN02
Crystal Structure.  Definitions of solid, crystal, unit cell, translation vector, basis, lattice.  Examples of 2D crystals, 3D crystals. 

3
Thu
10/4
Ch. 2:  23-43
LN03
Reciprocal Lattice.  Miller indices.  Diffraction:  Laue and Bragg models.  Brillouin zone, Reciprocal Lattice.  Fourier analysis and structure factor

4
Tue
10/9
Ch. 17A: 497-494
Ch. 18A:  515-528
LN04 notes
 slides
Surfaces and Nanostructures.  Measuring structures in real and reciprocal space.  Surface diffraction (LEED); Scanning Probe Microscopy; Electron Microscopy; Others as time permits.
HW 1 due
5 pm
Solutions
5
Thu
10/11
There are several books in the engineering and physics libraries on these topics.  Four pages on MBE and MOCVD from Ibach and Luth's Solid State Physics text are here for your own use only.
LN05

notes

slides
Growth of crystals and nanostructures.  Bulk crystals:  Czochralski; Thin films: molecular beam epitaxy, chemical vapor deposition, pulsed laser deposition, sputtering;  Nanostructures:  top down vs. bottom up.

6
Tue
10/16
Ch. 4A:  89-95
LN06
Crystal Vibrations.  Normal modes.  Continuum to atomic limit; dispersion relation; Brillouin zone importance; group and phase velocities
HW 2 due
5 pm
Solutions

Thu
10/18

MT1Soln
(50 min) MIDTERM (Ch. 1-3, 17A, 18A) Info
7
Tue
10/23
Ch. 4B:  95-102
LN07
Phonons.  Quantization.  Acoustic and Optical branches.  Phonon momentum.  Experimental evidence for phonons.

8
Thu
10/25
Ch. 5A:  105-119
LN08
Phonon Heat Capacity.  Planck distribution; density of states; Debye and Einstein models.
HW 3 due
5 pm Friday
Solutions
9
Tue
10/30
Ch. 5B:  119-128
Ch. 18C:  557-562
LN09
Thermal transport and thermal expansion.  Anharmonic vibration terms; transport in 3D and low-D.

10
Thu
11/1
Ch. 6A:  131-141
LN10
Free electron gas - Equilibrium.  Particle in a box and Fermi levels; Electron density of states. Role of finite temperature.  Fermi statistics.  Nanostructures. HW 4 due
5 pm
Solutions
11
Tue
11/6
Ch. 6B:  141-157
LN11
Excitations of the free electron gas:   Heat capacity; Electrical and Thermal conductivity. (may skip  magnetoresistance for now)

12
Thu
11/8
Ch. 7A:  161-169
LN12
Qualitative Energy Bands:  Insulators, Semiconductors, Metals.  Bloch's theorem.  Free Electron vs. Tight Binding models.
HW 5 due
5 pm
Solutions
13
Tue
11/13
Ch. 7B:  169 - 182
LN13
Quantitative Energy Bands:  Plane wave solutions to simple potentials.

14
Thu
11/15
Ch. 8A: 185 - 205
LN14
Semiconductor Band Structure:  Direct and indirect gap; equations of motion; (quasi)electrons and holes; effective mass.
HW 6 due
5 pm
Solutions
15
Tue
11/20

MT2Soln
MIDTERM (Ch. 4-7)


Thu
11/22


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

16
Tue
11/27
Ch. 8B:  205 - 214
LN15
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Carriers: Electrons and holes; Carrier concentrations; intentional doping 

17
Thu
11/29
Ch. 17C:  503-513
LN16
Semiconductor  Devices:  PN Junctions, Transistors
HW 7 due
5 pm
Solutions
18
Tue
12/4
Ch. 17C:  503-513 LN17
Semiconductor Nanostructures and Band gap engineering.  Lasers and light emitting diodes.  Quantum wells, wires, dots.
19
Thu
12/6
Ch 15
presented notes:  see LN17

Optical Properties of Semiconductors in 0, 1, 2, 3 dimensions
other topics not presented in class:
low-D transport
quantum Hall effect
HW 8 due
5 pm
Solutions

WED
12/12
10:30 am - 12:20 pm FinalSoln
FINAL EXAM (Cumulative; emphasis on post-chapter 7)