TENTATIVE SYLLABUS
Physics 423: Introduction to Solid State Physics
Autumn 2001
Professor Olmstead

Last Update 9/28/01
Day Date Reading? Topics
M1 10/1 Ch. 1A:
p. 1-10
Introduction. Crystal Structure. Definitions of solid, crystal, unit cell, translation operator, basis, lattice.
W1 10/3 Ch. 1B:
p. 10-26
2D crystals, mention 3D, miller indices. Experimental structure measurements - real space: ARTEM, STM, RBS.
F1 10/5 Ch. 2A:
p. 27-42
Reciprocal space. Brillouin zone. Diffraction: Bragg approach
M2 10/8 Ch. 2B:
p. 42-52
Diffraction: Laue approach. Laue patterns, powder diffraction, Scattering factor; Structure factor
W2 10/10 Ch. 19A:
p. 554-560
Ewald sphere. Examples: Surface diffraction, truncation rods, standing waves, electron diffraction.
F2 10/12 Ch. 3A: 
p. 53-75
HW#1 (Chapters 1&2) DUE.
Crystal binding . Covalent, Madelung, van der Waals
M3 10/15 Ch. 3B:
p. 75-95
Metallic cohesion; Elastic Constants, stress and strain.
W3 10/17 Ch. 4A:
p. 97-100
Phonons: oscillator normal modes, quantized vs continuum; 1D chain, q as a good quantum number.
F3 10/19 Ch. 4B:
p. 101-106
HW#2(Chapters 2&3) DUE.
Periodic boundary conditions, Brillouin zone importance. Acoustic and optical phonons: group and phase velocities.
M4 10/22 Ch. 4C:
p. 107-114
Quantize vibrations; phonons vs. photons. Experimental evidence for phonons, ballistic transport and phonon focussing, crystal momentum
W4 10/24 Ch. 5A:
p. 115-122
Thermal Properties: lattice heat capacity; occupation number; density of states in 1,3 dimensions.
F4 10/26 Ch. 5B:
p. 122-129
HW#3(Chapter 4) DUE.
Debye and Einstein models for density of states. Debye heat capacity; Debye temperature.
M5 10/29 Ch. 5C:
p. 129-140
Anharmonic terms: thermal expansion, thermal conductivity; elastic constants; umklapp processes; second sound.
W5 10/31 Ch. 6 Intro. Free electron gas. Classical model, where it breaks down; specific heat, thermal conductivity, Drude model of resistivity
F5 11/2 Ch. 6A:
p. 141-151
HW#4(Chapter 5) DUE.
Particle in a box and Fermi levels; Electron density of states. Role of finite temperature.
M6 11/5 Ch. 6B:
p. 151-162
Fermi statistics; Heat capacity, effective mass. Electrical conductivity.
W6 11/7 Ch. 1-5 MIDTERM
F6 11/9 Ch. 6C:
p. 162-172
Ch. 7A:
p. 172-176
Thermal conductivity of FEG. Wiedemann-Franz law, scattering on the Fermi sphere. 
Energy Bands. Insulators, metals and semiconductors.
M7 11/12 NO CLASS:  Veterans Holiday
W7 11/14 Ch. 7B:
p. 176-182
Bloch’s theorem. Qualitative band gap origin. Free electron parabolas and zone-folding. Bloch function properties. 
F7 11/16 Ch. 7C:
p. 182-196
HW #5 (Chapter 6) DUE. 
Solve central equation and Kronig-Penney model.
M8 11/19 Ch. 9A:
p. 233-244
Fermi Surfaces. 2-dimensional Fermi surface; electron transport and orbits.
W8 11/21 Ch. 8A:
p. 197-203
Semiconductors. Insulators, semiconductors and metals. Bands, gaps, quantum wells; direct and indirect gaps.
F8 11/23 NO CLASS:  Thanksgiving Holiday
M9 11/26 Ch. 8B:
p. 203-214
HW #6 (Chapter 7) DUE. Paper Topic DUE.
Forces and transport; real and crystal momentum. Effective Mass 
W9 11/28 Ch. 8C:
p. 206-221
Holes. Band structure. Conductivity and mobility.
F9 11/30 Ch. 8D:
p. 221-232
Carrier excitation. Acceptor/donor Rydberg orbits; np product in equilibrium. 
M10 12/3 Ch. 19B:
p. 570-581
HW #7 (Chapter 8,9) DUE 
PN junctions, Solar Cells; MOSFETS; LED’s and lasers
W10 12/5   **Special Topics
F10 12/7   **Special Topics
M11 12/10   HW #8 (Chapter 9, extra) DUE
**Special Topics
W11 12/12   **Special Topics  LAST CLASS
F11 12/14   PAPERS DUE by 5 pm
Tu12 12/18   FINAL EXAM: 8:30 Tuesday

? All reading is specified for C. K. Kittel, Introduction to Solid State Physics, 7th edition.

**Special topics will be determined by student interest. They may include: superconductivity, quantum nanostrutures, magnetism, optical properties, crystal growth, quantum Hall effect, surface reconstructions and surface states, band structure calculations, and laboratory tours. Please make your interests known to Prof. Olmstead by 11/26 (when you pick your paper topic).

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