Solid State Physics (PHYS*4150)

Code and section: PHYS*4150*01

Term: Winter 2019

Instructor: Kyle Manchee

Details

Course Information

Instructor Information

Instructor: Kyle Manchee
Email: manchee@uoguelph.ca
Office: MACN-330

Lectures

ANNU-306, M-W-F 10:30 - 11:30am

Calendar description

The topics covered in this course include: bonding in solids, thermal and electrical properties of solids, energy bands, imperfections in solids, properties of semiconductors and insulators.

Prerequisites

PHYS*4040 (Quantum Mechanics II), PHYS*4240 (Statistical Physics II)

Objectives

This course deals with crystalline solids and is intended to provide students with basic physical concepts and mathematical tools used to describe solids. The course deals with groups of materials, as in the periodic table, in terms of their structure, electronic, optical, and thermal properties. Specic objectives are:

  • To show how crystal symmetry leads to substantial mathematical simplications when dealing with solids.
  • To describe basic experimental measurements, to show typical data sets and to compare these with theory.

Topics included in PHYS*4150

  1. Free electron metals: Drude theory (classical), Sommerfeld theory (quantum mechanical)
  2. The static crystal lattice: Crystal lattices, the reciprocal lattice, X-ray diraction
  3. Electrons in a static lattice: Bloch's theorem, nearly free electrons (NFE), band structure, Brillouin zones
  4. Lattice dynamics: The classical harmonic crystal, the quantum harmonic crystal, measuring phonons
    - neutron scattering, Raman scattering and Brillouin scattering.
  5. Additional topics (if time allows): Semiconductors, superconductivity, quantum Hall eect, magnetism, etc.

Method of evaluation

Assessment Weight (Scheme 1) Weight (Scheme 2) Date
Assignments 30% 30% TBD
Midterm 30% 35% TBD (Week 7 or 8)
Final 40% 35% April 17, 2019

The final grade will be the higher of those calculated using weighting schemes 1 and 2, on an individual basis. The midterm is not scheduled yet, but will take place during week 7 or 8. The final examination has been set for April 17, 2019 from 8:30 - 10:30am (location to be announced). Changes will be announced on CourseLink.

Note that assignments are due at the beginning of class on the stated due date. Late assignments will not be accepted, and a grade of 0 will be assigned.

Course texts

  • "Solid State Physics", by N.W. Ashcroft and N.D. Mermin (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1976) is our main course text. In Ashcroft and Mermin, we will be mainly covering the rst nine chapters and chapters 22 and 23. Other topics will be covered depending on the time available.

Other recommended texts

  • "Introduction to Solid State Physics" by C. Kittel (Wiley, 8th Ed., 2005). Several earlier editions can also be used for reference.
  • You should feel comfortable consulting other introductory texts and other references. Sometimes several perspectives are required to gain an understanding of a topic. At this point in your academic career you should have a good idea of how you learn as an individual.

CourseLink

All course notes, assignment, and announcements will be posted on the CourseLink website. You are expected to check the site regularly.

Consideration for Illness, Religious Obligations, etc.

If you request academic consideration due to illness of a physical, psychological or emotional nature, or due to compassionate reasons, please contact the lecturer. See the Undergraduate Calendar for details. If you are unable to meet an in-course requirement due to religious obligations, please email the course
instructor within two weeks of the start of the semester to make alternate arrangements. See the under- graduate calendar for information on regulations and procedures for Academic Accommodation of Religious Obligations.

Collaboration

Collaboration and communication are essential for progress and advancement; much of modern society is built upon these skills. Students are encouraged to collaborate and discuss course concepts! However, all material submitted for grading must be each student's own work. Plagiarism is a form of academic misconduct, and will not be tolerated.

A good guideline when it comes to crossing the line from collaboration to academic misconduct is that a student must never look at another student's written work. For students seeking help from their peers, ask conceptual questions as opposed to asking for answers. For student helping their peers, never give the
answer explicitly, but explain your reasoning.

You must submit work that is your own, and not a copy of another student's (past or present). Cases of copying and plagiarism will be dealt with severely. The Academic Misconduct Policy is detailed in the Undergraduate Calendar. You are encouraged to cite references and useful discussions. If you are unsure of any of this policy, contact the lecturer in advance.

Getting help

I will hold regular office hours Wednesdays from 1:30 - 3:30pm. Changes to this schedule will be announced in class or on CourseLink. Feel free to email at any time with questions, or to arrange an appointment.