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PHYS3080 SOLID
STATE PHYSICS
See
Also Lecture notes,
assignments, tutorial questions etc.
Information
for Session 1, 2003
Brief
Syllabus:
Lattices,
periodicity, basic crystallography and structures; Lattice
vibrations, phonons; Electrons in a metal; semiconductors
and basic devices; superconductivity.
Assumed
Knowledge:
The
course assumes familiarity with second year PHYS2040 Quantum
Physics and first year mathematics, e.g. MATH1231 or MATH1241.
Co-requisite courses are PHYS3010 Quantum Mechanics (Advanced)
or PHYS3210 Quantum Mechanics, and PHYS3020 Statistical
Physics.
Course
Goals:
Solid
State Physics provides the basis for the most important
technological advances of the 20th century. It
also provides a wide range of opportunities to ‘see’ the
effects of Quantum Physics in action. Specific topics include:
-
A
discussion of the basic concept of a lattice and some
important and yet quite simple crystal structures;
-
The
behaviour of atoms in a crystal; vibrational modes of
a lattice and their quantization (“phonons”);
-
The
behaviour of electrons in a metal; “Free-Electron model”
and the “Nearly Free-Electron model”; electron waves and
lattice potential;
-
Energy
bands in crystals; Brillouin Zones;
-
Semiconductors,
direct and indirect band-gaps; the effects of doping a
semiconductor; basic semiconductor devices such as the
p-n junction;
-
The
phenomenon of superconductivity; key experiments; some
attempts to explain superconductivity; the BCS model (the
importance of phonons).
Learning
Objectives
-
Students
will learn the basics of crystallography and the importance
of periodicity
-
Students
will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge of
Quantum Physics to real systems such as metals and semiconductors
-
Students
will be able to follow the development of the phenomenon
of superconductivity from both experimental and theoretical
viewpoints.
Why
is Solid State Physics important?
Firstly,
it is often said that Solid State Physics is the branch
of Physics in which perhaps half of all present-day physicists
are working. The coupling of Solid State Physics and Quantum
Physics is the basis for virtually all technological aspects
of modern life.
The
course is strongly recommended as groundwork for a number
of 3rd year courses, e.g. PHYS3310 Physics of
Solid State Devices, as well as the 4th year
Honours units in Solid State Physics and Advanced Condensed
Matter Physics.
How
to succeed - Strategies for Learning
This
course will provide both an introduction to the behaviour
of solid materials and the conceptual tools necessary if
one wishes to pursue such studies. At this level, it is
important to focus on the basic principles which, in many
cases, can be appreciated without the need for detailed
mathematics. The subject naturally includes much Quantum
Mechanics but the student will find that the Quantum Physics
studied in 2nd year will provide most of the
skills needed to follow this course.
Like
most subjects, the key to success is hard work. At regular
points during the course (to link in with the lecture topics)
I will distribute a sheet of tutorial problems covering
the topic and approximately one in five of the class periods
will be devoted to a tutorial in which solutions to these
problems will be discussed.
It
is useful, as in any course, for each student to prepare
a concise summary of the material presented in lectures.
Assessment
For
rules regarding conduct of examinations, special consideration,
academic honesty, etc, see the School website at http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/2nd_and_3rd_syllabi/assessment_policy.html
Resources
Textbook
Solid
State Physics (2nd Ed.) (Wiley) by J.R. Hook
& H.E. Hall
Additional
References
C.
Kittel, Introduction to Solid State Physics
H.P.
Myers, Introductory Solid State Physics
N.W.
Ashcroft & N.D. Mermin, Solid State Physics
N.
Garcia & A. Damask, Physics for Computer Science Students
Information
on student support services may be found on the School website
at http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/2nd_and_3rd_syllabi/2nd_year_intro.html
Detailed
Syllabus
| TOPIC |
TEXT
REFERENCE |
| Crystal
structures and dynamics |
|
| Lattices,
crystal structures (sc, fcc, bcc, hcp), X-ray diffraction,
types of bonding in solids, lattice vibrations,
phonons, acoustic and optic modes of vibration;
Heat Capacity (Debye). |
1.1-1.4;
1.6; 2.1-2.6 |
Electrons
in metals I |
|
| Free-electron
model (Drude, Sommerfeld), Hall Effect, Fermi-Dirac
statistics; Fermi sphere |
3.1-3.3 |
Electrons
in metals II |
|
| Nearly-Free
electron model; periodic potential; energy bands;
effective mass concept |
4.1-4.4 |
Semiconductors |
|
| Statistics
of electrons and holes; band-gaps; donor and acceptor
impurities; cyclotron resonance |
5.1-5.5 |
Semiconductor
Devices |
|
| p-n
junction, Zener diode |
6.1-6.3 |
| Superconductivity |
|
| Phenomenon;
Type-I and Type-II superconductors; Meissner Effect;
London Equation, BCS model; Josephson Effect |
10.1-10.5 |
Further
Information
For more information
about PHYS3080 contact:
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