PHYS 415/515 - Solid State Physics

Spring 2012

 

Objective:

To provide a basic understanding of the fundamental aspects and applications of the physics of solids, including structure, lattice dynamics, and electronic properties of different materials (metals, semiconductors, dielectrics, magnetic materials and superconductors), based on the application of classical and quantum physics principles.


Class Hours: Mon., Wed. 4:40 - 5:55 PM          Location: MP 208

Instructor: Pushpa Raghani            Email: pushparaghani@boisestate.edu
Office: MP 421                               Phone: 208-426-3719
Office Hours: Tuesday 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm, or by appointment

Webpage: blackboard.boisestate.edu
Syllabus, lecture notes, and homework assignments will be posted at the Blackboard.

Text Book:

M. A. Omar, "Elementary Solid State Physics", Addison-Wesley, 1993. Earlier printing and international editions are acceptable.


Supplemental texts:

  • C. Kittel, Introduction to Solid State Physics, 8th Edition, Wiley, 2004.
  • J. S. Blakemore, "Solid State Physics", 3rd Edition, Cambridge University Press, 1985
  • S. O. Kasap, Principles of Electronic Materials and Devices, 3rd Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2006.
  • P. Yu and M. Cardona, "Fundamentals of semiconductors"
  • N. W. Ashcroft and N. D. Mermin, "Solid State Physics"
  • H. Ibach, H. Lüth, "Solid-State Physics. An Introduction to Principles of Materials Science," Springer, 2003.


Course Outline:

I.

Types of chemical bonds in solids; crystal structure and symmetry.
Types of bonding (covalent, ionic, metallic bonding; hydrogen and van der Waals).
The crystal lattice
Point symmetry
The 32 crystal classes

 

II.

Diffraction from periodic structures

Reciprocal lattice; Brillouin zones
Laue condition and Bragg law
Structure factor; defects
Methods of structure analysis

 

III.

Lattice vibrations and thermal properties
Elastic properties of crystals; elastic waves
Models of lattice vibrations
Phonons
Theories of phonon specific heat; thermal conduction.
Anharmonicity; thermal expansion

 

IV.

Electrons in metals
Free electron theory of metals
Fermi Statistics
Band theory of solids

 

V.

Semiconductors
Band structure.
Electron statistics; carrier concentration and transport; conductivity; mobility
Impurities and defects
Magnetic field effects: cyclotron resonance and Hall effect
Optical properties; absorption, photoconductivity and luminescence
Basic semiconductor devices

 

VI.

Magnetism
Magnetic susceptibility
Classification of materials; diamagnetism, paramagnetism
Ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism
Magnetic resonance

 

VII.

Dielectric properties of solids
Dielectric constant and polarizability (susceptibility)
Dipolar polarizability, ionic and electronic polarizability
Piezoelectricity; pyro- and ferroelectricity

 

VIII.

Superconductivity


Prerequisites: PHYS 309 or instructor's permission

Grading:

A: 88-100% (A-: 88-89%, A+: 99-100%)
C: 60-75% (C-: 60-62%, C+: 73-75%);

B: 75-88% (B-: 75-77%, B+: 86-88%)
D: 45-60%


Homework: 25 % for PHYS 415 and 15 % for PHYS 515 students
Research project: 10 % for PHYS 515 students
In-class exams (3): 25% each

Homework

Assignments will be due weekly on Wednesdays at the beginning of class. For those registered for PHYS 415, 25% of the grading will be based on homework. For PHYS 515 students 15% of the grade will be based on the homework and 10% - on a research project. Homework problems, lectures, and text readings will form the basis of the exam problems.

Project

Graduate students will perform a research project on a selected topic of contemporary solid state physics. Each graduate student will study the specific effect of their choice by reviewing scientific journal articles focusing on the effect chosen. A formal report will be written, with a typical length of approximately 10 pages (double spaced). It should be well organized and include an abstract, figures and reference section. The report will be graded on the basis of its originality, clarity of expression, and technical accuracy.