Admission Requirements
Introduction to Solid State Physics
Description
This course is a first step towards quantum many body physics, band structures, and emergent quasiparticles.
In this course you learn how electrons in solids can be described by simple but highly successful models. After a brief introduction into the phenomenology, we will start to work with and solve model Hamiltonians to describe quantized vibrations and electrons in the periodic potential in solids. You will be introduced to the concept of quasiparticles. You will learn to qualitatively and quantitatively descripe important properties of electrons and quantized vibrations in periodic potentials, and get quantities such as the energy spectra, the conductivity etc. Later, we will apply these techniques to describe semiconductors, magnets, and superconductors.
The class is recommended especially if you want to pursue experimental or theoretical condensed matter physics!
Course objectives
The main objective is to be able to describe quantized vibrations and electrons in solids using (model) Hamiltonians and solve them.
After this class, you will be able to
Derive the spectrum of quantized lattice vibrations for simple crystalline solids with regards to macroscopic properties
Derive the spectrum of electrons in simple crystalline solids and interpret the result with regards to macroscopic properties
Explain the concept of a Briulline zone, and be able to explain why it is valuable to describe solids.
Draw band structures for one dimensional solids
Derive the band structure in dimple one dimeensilanl chains both in the nearly free electron and tight binding model; be able to explain the difference
Name the key phenomenological properties of semiconductors and connect them to microscopic models
Name models to describe the key properties of magnet, and explain where they are useful
Describe the basic phenomenology of superconductors
Soft skills
You use books in addition to the lectures and exercises to achieve the learning objectives.
Timetable
Mode of instruction
Lectures (mostly chalk on blackboard + some discussions) and exercise classes
Course load
6EC
Assessment method
Written examination (100%).
Blackboard
Reading list
For most of the class, we will follow the book “The Oxford Solid State Basics” by S.H. Simon (Oxford University Press). The library has unlimited electronic copies.