Condensed Matter Physics (U01406)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : PHY-4-CondMatt

The course covers three main topics: the structure of condensed systems, lattice dynamics, and electrons in condensed matter. The aim is to give a firm grounding in these core concepts, and the motivation is to provide a basic understanding of the electrical, optical, thermal and mechanical properties of condensed matter. Given the enormous diversity of condensed systems, the emphasis is on a qualitative understanding of the key ideas.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : At least 40 credit points accrued in courses of SCQF Level 9 or 10 drawn from Schedule Q including Physical Mathematics (PHY-3-PhMath) or equivalent.

Variants

? This course has variants for part year visiting students, as follows

Condensed Matter Physics (VS1) (Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2))

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Undergraduate (School of Physics), (School of Physics, Schedule Q)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
19/09/2006	09:00	10:00	Lecture Theatre 6301, JCMB	KB

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	09:00	09:50	KB
Lecture	Friday	09:00	09:50	KB

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course it is intended that a student will be able to:
1)discuss the phases of condensed matter and demonstrate an understanding of how their structures can be described;
2)state and explain the properties of the reciprocal lattice and apply its general definition to particular lattices;
3)state the various forms of the diffraction condition for waves in a crystal and demonstrate their equivalence;
4)explain the dependence of the atomic form factor on scattering vector, derive expressions for the scattering amplitude for specific crystal structures, and discuss scattering in vibrating crystals and non-crystalline matter
5)derive the dispersion relations for deformation waves of 1D systems, state the main features of these relations and discuss their physical origin, and understand the extension to 3D systems
6)describe the general form of the heat capacity of solids and explain the need for quantum mechanical descriptions based on the Einstein and Debye models
7)state the eigenstates of the free electron gas, sketch the free electron band structure, describe the occupation of the electronic states in 1, 2 and 3D for T=0 and T>0, and derive an intuitive estimate of the electronic contribution to the heat capacity;
8)explain the response of free and Bloch electrons to an external force and appreciate the utility of the hole and effective mass concepts;
9)discuss the mechanisms for electrical conduction in metals and semiconductors, state the sources of electron scattering in solids and explain their relevance to thermal and electrical resistance;
10)demonstrate a grasp of the orders of magnitude of the central quantities and develop confidence with "intuitive" estimates.