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PHYS965 Advanced Solid State Physics
Spring Semester 1999
Last updated: 01/18/1999
| Instructor? |
Olof Echt, tel: 2-3548. email: olof.echt@unh.edu,
office hours: any time |
| When & where? |
Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 11:10 am – 12:00, in DeMeritt 304 |
| First day of class? |
January 20 |
Click here for a list of important dates (quizzes, tests,
colloquia, due dates)
Topics
First half of semester
Review of Introductory Solid State Physics
crystal structure, reciprocal lattice, crystal binding, phonons, quantized free
electron gas, energy bands, Fermi surfaces, basic properties of semiconductor crystals.
Physics of semiconductors, optical properties of solids, superconductivity.
Required textbook: none. A variety of useful textbooks are on Reserve, see
below.
Second half of semester
Current topics in condensed matter physics: low dimensional systems &
artificial structures
quantum wells, superlattices, quantum Hall effect, quantized resistance, atomic clusters,
fullerenes, nanotubes.
Literature: books and research articles
Expectations & Grading:
Homework will assigned and discussed in class, but will not be graded.
The material reviewed during the first two weeks will be subject to a quiz (10 points).
The material discussed during the remainder of the first half semester will be subject
to one quiz (10 points) and one test (20 points).
The final exam (25 points) will cover the material discussed after spring break.
Students will be expected to attend all departmental colloquia and seminars which are
related to condensed matter physics. Click
here for topics and dates. Seven days after each of these talks, a one-page
summary is due (five talks, 2 points each).
One term paper, about 2000 to 3000 words, (20 points). Describe a major discovery in
condensed matter physics which is accredited to essentially one scientist: A biography of
the discoverer, the context of the discovery (what was known in the field at the time of
the discovery? Was the discovery accidental?), the actual discovery, its impact on science
and society. Your paper (typewritten, with graphs, bibliography, etc.) should be based on
at least one of each of the following sources: a historical account; two original research
papers co-authored by the discoverer, one of which may be an account of the discovery in
the author’s own words; a comprehensive review article of the topic.
(Second half of semester) For a given topic suggested by the instructor, identify
literature which will form the basis for a one-hour discussion in class. Prepare an
introductory oral presentation, and then lead a class discussion (5 points).
Books on Reserve:
| Ashcroft N.W. & Mermin N.D. |
Solid State Physics |
| Burns G. |
Solid State Physics |
| Burns G. |
High-Temperature Superconductivity: An
Introduction |
| Chelikowsky J.R. & Franciosi A. |
Electronic Materials: A New Era in Materials
Science |
| Davies J.H. |
The Physics of Low Dimensional Semiconductors |
| Hoddeson L. |
Out of the Crystal Maze |
| Ibach H. & Lüth H. |
Solid State Physics |
| Imry Y. |
Introduction to Mesoscopic Physics |
| Kittel C. |
Introduction to Solid State Physics |
| Kresin V.Z. & Wolf S.A. |
Fundamentals of Superconductivity |
| Madelung O. |
Introduction to Solid State Theory |
| Myers H.P. |
Introductory Solid State Physics |
| Reed M.A. & Kirk W.P. |
Nanostructure Physics and Fabrication |
| Sapoval B. & Hermann C. |
Physics of Semiconductors |
| Seeger K. |
Semiconductor Physics |
| Segre E. |
From X-rays to Quarks : Modern Physicists and
Their Discoveries |
| Silsbee R.H. & Dräger J. |
Simulations for Solid State Physics |
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