Physics 231

Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics

Instructor: Peter Young
office ISB 212
phone 459-4151,
e-mail: peter@physics.ucsc.edu

Place: ISB 231

Time: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:30-10:40 a.m.

This course description and other course materials will also be available on the world-wide-web at: http://physics.ucsc.edu/~peter/231

Books
The recommend book is

Condensed Matter Physics by Michael P. Mardar

Another good book, which as been the recommended text in previous years is

Solid State Physics by N.W. Aschroft and N.D. Mermin

Another useful book, at a somehat more elementary level, is:

Introduction to Solid State Physics by C. Kittel.

You may also find it useful to refer to

Quantum Theory of Solids by R.E. Peierls.
This text treats the theory more thoroughly but has less phenomenology than the other books. It is written by one of the founding fathers of solid state physics. Some of the discussion (e.g. Superconductivity, not covered in this course) is out of date, but much of it is still extremely valuable.
Principles of the Theory of Solids by J.M. Ziman.
A concise discussion of the main points of the subject.

Topics

The topics to be covered (chapters refer to Mardar unless otherwise stated)
Note: This is still somewhat fluid

Crystal lattices, a summary of Chs. 1 and 2.
Determination of crystal structures by X-Ray diffraction and the reciprocal lattice, Ch. 3.
Crystal binding and cohesive energy, Kittel Ch. 3.
Lattice vibrations, phonons, Debye theory, thermal conductivity, umklapp processes, Ch. 13 and Ashcroft and Mermin Ch. 25 p. 495-508.
Free electron gas, Energy bands, Bloch's theorem, Chs. 6, 7
Drude-Sommerfeld theory of metals, Semiclassical model of electron dynamics Ch. 16.1 and 16.2.
Electron-electron interactions, band structure, Chs. 8,9,10.
If time, there will be some discussion of semiconductors, Ch. 19.

Grading
Your performance in the class will be decided on the basis of the final and homework assignments as follows:

 
		 final   		 70%
		 homework 		 30%

The final exam will be closed book. You will be allowed to bring one sheet of hand written notes if you wish.

Office Hours
My office hours are will be decided in class. I am also willing to see students at other times, unless I am with someone else or have an urgent deadline to meet.

Peter Young
Thu Sep 22 12:48:16 PDT 2011