Physics 415: Solid State Physics
Syllabus:
Down load the syllabus in pdf format.
Course Outline:
The main text book for this course is Solid State Physics, 3rd Edition, by Harold Stokes. The book is short in comparison
to other solid state texts at the undergraduate level, but it covers a wide range of topics. We will attempt to cover material
from each chapter. A
list of topics and corresponding chapters are provided below.
Official Schedule of Topics (updated as needed):
| Topic |
Chapter |
Comments |
| Crystal Structure - the Bravais lattice |
1 |
Completed 01/30 |
| X-ray Difraction - crystal structure, Reciprocal lattice |
2 |
Completed 02/08 |
| Lattice Vibrations |
3 |
Focus on 1D |
| Classical Model of Metals |
4 |
DC/AC Drude and Hall effect |
| Waves & Particles - inelastic scattering |
5 |
Focused on scattering |
| Quantum Mechanics - a brief introduction |
6 |
Read and Study on your own |
| Free Electron Model (Quantum) of Metals |
7 |
Completed 03/31 |
| Band Theory of Metals |
8 |
Completed 04/14 |
| Electrical Conductivity of Metals |
9 |
Completed 04/23 |
| Semiconductors |
10 |
Completed 05/05 |
| p-n Junctions in Semiconductors |
11 |
Qualitative discussion |
| Semiconductor Devices |
12 |
|
| Superconductivity |
13 |
|
| Heat - heat capacity & thermal conductivity |
14 |
|
| Magnetic Properties - PM, FM, AFM |
15 |
|
| Dielectric and Optical Properties |
16 |
|
Assignments:
All problems are from the text, Solid State Physics, 3rd Edition, by Harold Stokes, unless otherwise stated.
Note, SP = supplemental problem
- Assigned 01/25, due 02/01:
- Reading: Chapter 1, Crystal Structure, all sections.
- Problems: 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 1-7, 1-9, 1-10, 1-13, 1-14, 1-15, 1-21
- Assigned 02/01, due 02/13:
- Reading: Chapter 2, X-Ray Diffraction, all sections.
- Problems: 2-2, 2-4, 2-5, 2-9, 2-13, 2-14, 2-15, 2-16
- Assigned 02/12, due 02/20:
- Reading: Chapter 3, Lattice Vibrations, all sections.
- Problems: 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6, 3-7, 3-8, 3-10, 3-11
- Assigned 03/03, due 03/14:
- Reading: Chapter 4, Classical Model of Metals, all sections.
- Problems: 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6, 4-7
- Assigned 03/03, due 03/14:
- Reading: Chapter 5, Waves & Particles, all sections.
- Problems: 5-2, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, 5-7, 5-9, 5-10, 5-11
- Assigned 03/07, due 03/24:
- Reading: Chapter 6, Quantum Mechanics, all sections.
- Problems: 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, 6-10, 6-11, 6-13
- Assigned 03/31, due 04/07:
- Reading: Chapter 7, Free-Electron Quantum Model of Electrons, all sections.
- Problems: 7-3, 7-4, 7-5, 7-6, 7-9, 7-10, 7-12
- Assigned 04/07, due 04/14:
- Reading: Chapter 8, Band Theory of Metals, all sections.
- Problems: 8-2, 8-3, 8-4, 8-5, 8-6, 8-9
- Assigned 04/18, due 04/28:
- Reading: Chapter 9, Electrical Conductivity of Metals, all sections.
- Problems: 9-1, 9-2, 9-3, 9-4, 9-5, 9-6, 9-7, 9-8
- Assigned 04/25, due 05/05:
- Reading: Chapter 10, Semiconductors, all sections.
- Problems:10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-5, 10-6, 10-7, 10-11, 10-12, 10-14, 10-15, 10-16, 10-21
- Assigned 05/07, due 05/16:
- Reading: Chapter 11, p-n Junctions, all sections.
- Problems:11-1, 11-3, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9
- Assigned 05/07, due 05/12:
- Problems:11-5, 11-11, 12-6, SP-pn
Miscellaneous Comments:
- 03/07: Note, I will be away from 03/10 - 03/13. Hence, we will not meet that week. Please note that you
should work through the material in chapters 5 and 6 and do the above problems. After spring break, we
will review quantum briefly and then start chapter 7.
- 04/06: CMOC Conference on Wednesday, 04/09, and UConn. See announcement for details. There will be no
class this day.
- The Final exam - Monday 05/12, at 3:00pm.
Southern Connecticut State University