THE
DEPARTMENT
OF PHYSICS
PHYSICS
4250 SOLID STATE PHYSICS
FALL 2016
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Lecture: |
Instructor: |
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Physics 4250A |
Dr. K. J. E. Vos |
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TH: 15:05 16:20 |
Office: UH E-882 |
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Room UH D-632 |
Telephone: 403.329.2191 |
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Electronic Mail: k.vos@uleth.ca |
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OFFICE HOURS: (If you want to talk physics or get assistance or
help or advice)
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Monday: 10:30 12:30 in E-882
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Tuesday: 10:30 12:30 in E-882
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Wednesday: 10:30 12:30 in
E-882
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Thursday: 10:30 12:30 in
E-882
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Friday: 10:30 12:30 in E-882
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An introductory
study of the physical properties of solids. Material
studied: crystalline structures; the formation of solids (different types of
bonding); diffraction; energy bands in solids; and physical properties such as
electrical, thermal, optical, and magnetic.
PREREQUISITES:
·
Physics
2150 (Quantum
Mechanics I)
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Physics
2925 (Introduction
to Experimental Physics)
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Mathematics
2580 (Calculus IV)
COREQUISITES:
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Physics
3150 (Quantum
Mechanics II)
RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND:
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Physics
3400 (Thermal and
Statistical Physics)
TEXT:
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Condensed Matter Physics, 2nd edition, by M. P.
Marder (required)
REFERENCES:
·
·
Introduction to
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Principles of the Theory of Solids, by J.
M. Ziman
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Theory of Solids,
second edition, by J. M. Ziman
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The Physics and Chemistry of
Materials, by J. I. Gersten
and F. W. Smith
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Quantum Theory of the Solid State, by J. Callaway (advance)
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Greens Functions for Solid State Physicists, by S. Doniach and E. H. Sondheimer (advance)
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Many-Particle Physics, by G. D. Mahan (advance)
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Other good texts can be found
in the library. (See
for example the Solid State Physics series.)
TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE:
|
Week |
Topic |
Chapters |
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1 |
Solid State: the crystal structure |
1 |
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2 |
Three-Dimensional Lattices |
2 |
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3 |
Scattering and Structures |
3 |
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4 |
The Free-Fermi Gas and Single Electron
Model |
6 |
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5 |
Non-interacting Electrons in a Periodic
Potential |
7 |
|
6 |
Nearly-Free and Tightly Bound Electrons |
8 |
|
7 |
Nearly-Free and Tightly Bound Electrons |
8 |
|
8 |
Cohesion of Solids |
11 |
|
9 |
Phonons |
13 |
|
10 |
Dynamics of Bloch Electrons |
16 |
|
11 |
Optical Properties of Metals and
Inelastic Scattering |
23 |
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12 |
Magnetism and Superconductivity |
24,25,26, 27 |
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GRADE DISTRIBUTION:
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Assignments 25%
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Term Paper 25%
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Mid-Term 25%
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Final Examination 25%
Assignments: There will be an assignment each week. The grade for the assignments will be the sum
of your marks divided by the sum of the totals.
Term Paper: The term paper is worth 25% of your final
grade. The papers are due by 18:00 (6
PM) on Tuesday, November 15, 2016. No papers will be accepted after the due
date. The papers must be typed and
the grammar and spelling must be of good quality. Plagiarism is not permitted! The body of the paper must have a minimum
of 3000 words. The topic of the
paper can be on anything that deals with solid state physics (condensed
matter). The term paper must include
at least four references (sources). You are allowed to use your textbook as one
of your references. 75% of the weight will be based on content and 25% of the
weight will be based on presentation (grammar, spelling, etc.). Several topics
can be found in the textbook and the other references listed above. Some very
good journal references are: Science, Scientific American, Nature, Physics
Today, etc.
Mid-term Examination: The mid-term examination is worth 25% of your
final grade. The exam will be handed out
on Friday, October 21, 2016 (tentative),
and will be due by 18:00 (6 PM) on Monday, October 24, 2016 (tentative). Note that the exam is an individual take-home
exam so you may use whatever you need to help you except humans. Late exams will not be accepted.
Final Examination: The final examination is worth 25% of your
final grade. You will have 72 hours to
complete the examination. The exam will
be handed out on Friday, December 9, 2016 (tentative), and will
be due by 18:00 (6 PM) on Monday, December 12, 2016 (tentative). Note that the exam is an individual take-home exam so you may use whatever
you need to help you except humans. Late
exams will not be accepted. OR in-class exam from 14:00 (2 PM) to 17:00 (5 PM) on Wednesday, December 14, 2016.
FINAL
GRADING:
|
MARKS |
LETTER GRADE |
GRADE POINT VALUE |
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90.00 100 |
A+ |
4.0 |
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85.00 89.99 |
A |
4.0 |
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80.00 84.99 |
A- |
3.7 |
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75.00 79.99 |
B+ |
3.3 |
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70.00 74.99 |
B |
3.0 |
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65.00 69.99 |
B- |
2.7 |
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60.00 64.99 |
C+ |
2.3 |
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55.00 59.99 |
C |
2.0 |
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50.00 54.99 |
C- |
1.7 |
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45.00 49.99 |
D+ |
1.3 |
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40.00 44.99 |
D |
1.0 |
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00.00 39.99 |
F |
0.0 |