FYSS5300 Condensed Matter Physics (8 cr)

Study level:
Advanced studies
Grading scale:
0-5
Language:
English
Responsible organisation:
Department of Physics
Curriculum periods:
2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024

Description

  • Bonding in solids

  • lattice types, amorphous materials

  • Reciprocal lattice, diffraction

  • Defects in solids

  • Introduction to elasticity and acoustic waves

  • Phonons, thermal properties of insulators

  • Dielectrics

  • Electron density and electronic heat capacity

  • Bloch’s theorem, band structure

  • SImplest models of interacting electrons, conductors, insulators

  • electrical conductivity

  • semiconductors, magnetism, superconductivity  

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to

  • describe the main bonding mechanisms is solids

  • know the concept of a lattice and the most important lattice and defect types and the difference between crystalline and amorphous materials

  • explain the concept of reciprocal lattice, and use it in solving diffraction problems

  • solve the phonon dispersion relations of the simplest lattices, define the concept of phonon and understand, how they explain the thermal and sonic properties of insulators

  • describe how dielectrics influence the propagation of EM fields

  • understand the concept of the free-electron model and to use it to calculate electron density and heat capacity

  • explain Bloch's theorem and tell how it determines the band structure

  • describe the nearly-free electron and tight-binding models and explain why some materials are metals and others insulators

  • describe the concepts of a hole and effective mass and explain how electrical conductivity arises

  • describe the basic principles of semiconductors, magnetism and superconductivity

  • solve simple problems of condensed matter physics 

Description of prerequisites

  • FYSA2031-FYSA2032 Quantum Mechanics, parts A&B or equivalent

  • FYSA2041-FYSA2042 Statistical Physics, parts A&B or equivalent 

Study materials

Lecture notes 

Literature

  • S. Elliott: The physics and chemistry of solids, Wiley 1998, ISBN-13 978-0-471-98195-4.
  • C. Kittel: Introduction to Solid State Physics 8th Edition, Wiley 2005, ISBN-13: 978-0471415268.
  • H. Ibach and H. Luth: Solid-State Physics: An Introduction to Principles of Materials Science, Springer 2009, ISBN 978-3-540-93804-0.

Completion methods

Method 1

Evaluation criteria:
Total points from course elements (for example 40 % assignments, 30 % 1. midterm exam, 30 % 2. midterm exam).
Time of teaching:
Period 3, Period 4
Select all marked parts

Method 2

Description:
This completion method is intended for students for whom method 1 is not possible for specific reasons (e.g. language, living elsewhere). Contact the teacher before enrolling to the course via this completion method.
Evaluation criteria:
Total points from course elements (for example 40 % assignments, 30 % 1. midterm exam, 30 % 2. midterm exam).
Select all marked parts
Parts of the completion methods
x

Teaching (8 cr)

Type:
Participation in teaching
Grading scale:
0-5
Evaluation criteria:
Total points from course elements (for example 40 % assignments, 30 % 1. midterm exam, 30 % 2. midterm exam).
Language:
English
Study methods:
Lectures, assignments, two midterm exams. 

Teaching

x

Independent study (8 cr)

Type:
Independent study
Grading scale:
0-5
Evaluation criteria:
Total points from course elements (for example 40 % assignments, 30 % 1. midterm exam, 30 % 2. midterm exam).
Language:
English
Study methods:
Assignments, project work and oral examination. 

Teaching