Course Syllabus

Physics 971 is a graduate-level Condensed Matter Physics course. Recommended background courses include PHY491, PHY852, PHY841, and PHY831. The real prerequisites are working knowledge of Condensed Matter physics at the level of Kittel and nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. Otherwise, the course will be self-contained. The course attempts to present a sound theoretical framework to describe and understand physical properties of condensed matter, ranging from atomic clusters to solids.

This course will provide the necessary basis for studies in the emerging multidisciplinary field of Nanotechnology. I will try to keep the formal treatment at a minimum and to emphasize the basic understanding of the physical phenomena.

http://www.pa.msu.edu/~tomanek/PHY971/ contains the updated course information.

Structure of solids. Bravais lattices and reciprocal lattices. Wigner-Seitz cell, Brillouin zones, crystal symmetry, point and space groups. Structure determination by diffraction, structure factors.

Vibrations in solids. Classical and quantum description of the harmonic crystal, phonons. Linear chain and lattice with a basis. Dynamical matrix and dispersion relations for various lattices. Specific heat, Debye and Einstein models.

Electrons in solids. Drude and Sommerfeld model of the free electron gas. Bloch's theorem and nearly free electron gas. Electron bands and Fermi surface in crystals. Kronig-Penney model. Tight-binding method. Classification of solids.

Cohesion in solids. Van der Waals and ionic crystals, Madelung constant. Covalent and metallic bonding within one-electron theory. Elastic constants, stability.

Cooperative phenomena. Introduction to superconductivity and magnetism.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 12:40 - 1:30 p.m. in Rm. 1420 BPS (Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building). The last lecture will be on April 29, 2005.

After class and by appointment.

"Solid State Physics" by N.W. Ashcroft and N.D. Mermin, published by Holt, Rinehart and Winston (1986). The course will cover the material in Chapters 4-7, 22-24, 8-11, and 19-20.

A set of problems will be handed out regularly. You are encouraged to discuss the homework with anyone, but write up the solution by yourself.

To encourage regular review of the material taught, short pop quizzes will be administered frequently during the course.

There will be a Midterm and a Final Exam. Both exams will be based on material covered in the lectures and homework. The Midterm and the Final Exam are closed book exams. The Midterm Exam will take place on Monday, February 28, during Class hours. The Final Exam will take place on Friday, April 29, from 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. The location of the Final Exam will be announced in the lecture.

In addition to the exams, each student in the course will give a 20 minute oral presentation on a topic of current interest, which is related to the course topic (see http://www.pa.msu.edu/~tomanek/PHY971/Presentations.html).

There will be no possibility to make up for missed Homework assignments. When possible, please notify the instructor in advance if you must miss a course requirement, otherwise notify the instructor as soon as possible (within one week) afterwards.

In order for a missed Homework assignment to be excused, you must present to the lecturer within one week a written excuse, dated and signed by you, explicitly stating the circumstances that caused you to miss the exam or homework assignment. This excuse should be verifiable, i.e. accompanied by a written document from a doctor, dean, etc. Excused absences will result in your grade being calculated on the basis of your performance on the other exams and homework.

The Michigan State University Code of Teaching Responsibilities states that any student missing the Final Exam may not be allowed to pass the course.

The grade point average used to determine the final grade will be based on the Homework (25%), Pop quizzes (5%), Midterm Exam (25%), Student Presentation (10%), and the Final Exam (35%).