Course introduction

This course aims to equip graduate students with advanced knowledge of solid-state physics that are necessary to understand contemporary literature and conduct frontier research in physics. The course will start with a review of basic structural and electronic properties of crystals, with an emphasis on the band theory of electrons in periodic potentials. The many-body physics of selected topics will also be worked out. Then, the course will move on to thermodynamic and transport properties of metals, including the temperature dependence of specific heat and conductance, and basic magneto-transport properties. Next, the course covers a few advanced topics in the area of magnetism and optical properties of materials. Finally, we will treat the qualitative and quantitative basis of BCS theory, Ginzburg-Landua theory and their advance applications.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to understand,

How solids are held together and how their structure is reflected in their macroscopic properties, How simple models could be used to describe the structure of a solid, particularly their electronic energy bands and crystal vibrations etc. The students will be in a position to under physics lying behind the magnetism, optical, transport, and superconducting properties of solids. Furthermore, students can appreciate these acquired concepts to explain their utilization in modern technology.

Suggested Readings

1. Michael P. Marder. (2015). Condensed Matter Physics (2nd Edition). Hoboken New Jersey: Wiley.
2. Neil W. Ashcroft, N. David Mermin. (2003). Solid State Physics (1st Edition). Hong Kong: CBS Publishing Asia Ltd. 
3. Harald Ibach & Luth, (2009). Solid States Physics (4th Edition). New York City: Springer.
4. Steven H. Simon. (2013). The Oxford Solid State Basics (1st Edition). Oxford: OUP.
5. Charles Kittle. (2005). Introduction to Solid State Physics (8th Edition). Hoboken New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Assessment Criteria:

Sessional: 20 (Presentation/Assignment 05, Lecture activities/Attendance 05, Sessional Tests 10 Marks (Each sessional test will be conducted one week prior to Mid Term and Final Term Examination.)

Mid-Term Exam:  30

Final-Term Exam: 50

Course Contents

Electronic Structure of Solids, Independent particles in a periodic potential, Bloch’s theorem, NFE in three dimensions, band structures of solids, tight-binding model, Hartree-Fock approximation, case of the helium atom, exchange and correlation in the electron gas, screening, methods of calculation band structures, Wannier functions, OPW, pseudopotentials, APW, LAPW. Transport phenomena, Boltzmann equation and electrical conduction, Solids in External magnetic field, Pauli-paramagnetism of conduction electrons, Landau-diamagnetism of conduction electrons, De Haas-van Alphen effect, the quantum Hall effect, Optical properties, Kramer-Kronig relation, excitons, Mott-Wannier excitons. Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) Theory, Ginzburg-Landua theory, Flux quantization, Josephson effect, high Tc superconductivity.