THE UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

PHYSICS 5250 – SOLID STATE PHYSICS I

SPRING 2004

 

Lecture:

Instructor:

Physics 5250 A

Dr. K. J. E. Vos

MWF: 14:00 – 14:50

Office: E-882 University Hall

Room D-633

Telephone: 403.329.2191

 

Electronic Mail: k.vos@uleth.ca

 

OFFICE HOURS: (If you want to talk physics or if you need assistance, help or advice.)

·        Monday: 15:00 – 17:00 in E882

·        Wednesday: 15:00 – 17:00 in E882

·        Friday: 15:00 – 17:00 in E882

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is an introduction to the solid state at an advanced level.  Material studied: crystalline structures and symmetries; the formation of solids (different types of bonding); X-Ray, electron and neutron diffraction; band structures in solids; and physical properties such as electrical, thermal, optical and magnetic.

 

PREREQUISITES:

·        Approval from the instructor

 

TEXTS:

·        The Physics and Chemistry of Materials, by J. I. Gersten and F. W. Smith (required)

·        Solid State Physics, by N. W. Ashcroft and N. D. Mermin (optional/recommended)

·        Quantum Theory of the Solid State, by J. Callaway (optional/recommended)

 

REFERENCES:

·        Introduction to Solid State Physics, by C. Kittel

·        Principles of the Theory of Solids, by J. M. Ziman

·        Theory of Solids, second edition, by J. M. Ziman

·        Green’s Functions for Solid State Physicists, by S. Doniach and E. H. Sondheimer

·        Many-Particle Physics, by G. D. Mahan

·        Other good texts can be found in the library. (See for example the Solid State Physics series.)

 

TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE:

 

Week

Topic

Chapters

1 – 2

Structure of Crystals

1 ++

3 – 4

Bonding in Solids

2 ++

5 – 7

Diffraction and the Reciprocal Lattice

3 ++

8 – 11

Electrons in Solids: Electrical and Thermal Properties

7

12

Optical Properties of Materials

8

13

Magnetic Properties of Materials

9

 

GRADE DISTRIBUTION:

·                    Assignments                             20%

·                    Mid-Term                                20%

·                    Final Examination                      20%

·                    Term Paper                              20%

·                    Special Project                         20%

 

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.

 

Mid-term Examination:  The mid-term examination is worth 20% of your final grade.  The exam will be handed out on Friday, February 13, 2004 (tentative), and will be due by 18:00 (6 PM) on Monday, February 23, 2004 (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 20% of your final grade.  The exam will be handed out on the last day of lectures, Friday, April 16, 2004 (tentative), and will be due by 12:00 (noon) on Saturday, April 24, 2004 (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.

 

Term Paper:  The term paper is worth 20% of your final grade.  The papers are due by 18:00 (6 PM) on Friday, March 12, 2004.  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 (or 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.

 

Special Project:  The project is worth 20% of your final grade.  The project will be due no later than 18:00 on Friday, April 16, 2004 (tentative).  Note that the project will consist primarily of extra reading and assignment problems at an advanced level.

 

FINAL GRADING:

 

Your final grade = 0.20 X (assignments final grade + term paper grade + mid-term mark + final examination mark + special project final grade)

 

 

MARKS

LETTER GRADE

GRADE POINT VALUE

90.00 – 100

A+

4.0

85.00 – 89.99

A

4.0

80.00 – 84.99

A-

3.7

75.00 – 79.99

B+

3.3

70.00 – 74.99

B

3.0

65.00 – 69.99

B-

2.7

60.00 – 64.99

C+

2.3

55.00 – 59.99

C

2.0

50.00 – 54.99

C-

1.7

45.00 – 49.99

D+

1.3

40.00 – 44.99

D

1.0

00.00 – 39.99

F

0.0