Prospectus

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The Electronic structure of solids

Course
2018-2019

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.

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