Physics 463: Solid State Physics
Textbook
Elementary Solid State Physics by M. Ali Omar. There are lots of supplementary reading sources to get a different view of the various topics that we will cover. The library has a surprisingly good selection of solid state books. The BIG classic elementary solid state text is by Kittel; it has some good sections but overall I do not like it as a main text.
Course Goal
To provide a introductory understanding of the concepts and principles of solid state physics. I aim to emphasize the physical concepts that lead to important “information-age” devices such as the transistor and the diode laser.
Prerequisites
Thermodynamics (PHYS361) and Theoretical Physics II (PHYS311).
Grading
Your final grade for the course will be determined by the following prescription:
Homework:______30 %
Test 1__________15%
Test 2__________15%
Test 3__________15%
Comprehensive final exam 25%
The homework is an important part of this course. Because the book does not always have a sufficient depth of problems, some of the homework assignments will not be from the book. I will hand out printed sheets that have the homework problems from the book and any extra problems as appropriate. I also intend to try to work in an examination of papers from the research literature to see how what we learn in class applies to recent (or perhaps some classic) research results. This will likely involve you reading a paper that I hand out and then discussing it in the next class. I will be working on this as the semester goes along so I will keep you informed.
The three tests will be 50 minute in-class affairs over the material covered since
the last test.
The final exam is comprehensive over the material covered in class and in the homework.
The course outline gives a general guide of the topics to be covered and an approximate schedule. The dates on which the homework assignments are also listed, although they are subject to minor change (to a later date). The test dates listed will not change.
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| Jan. 6 Introduction |
Jan. 8 Crystal Structure and Symmetry
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Jan. 11 Crystal Structure and Symmetry
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Jan. 13 Crystal Structure and Symmetry
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Jan. 15 Crystal Structure and Symmetry
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| Jan. 18 Martin Luther King
Holiday |
Jan. 20 Crystal Structure and Symmetry
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Jan. 22 Expt’l Techniques to measure crystal structure
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Jan. 25 Expt’l Techniques to measure crystal structure
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Jan. 27 Expt’l Techniques to measure crysta structureReading Chapter 2 |
Jan. 29 Expt’l Techniques to measure crystal structure
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Feb. 1 Phonons
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Feb. 3 Phonons
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Feb. 5 Test 1 |
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Feb. 8 Phonons
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Feb. 10 Phonons
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Feb. 12 Phonons
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Feb. 15 Free-electron model of metals
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Feb. 17 Free-electron model of metals
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Feb. 19 Free-electron model of metals
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Feb. 22 Free-electron model of metals
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Feb. 24 Electron Band Structure
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Feb. 26 Electron Band Structure
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Mar. 1 Electron Band Structure
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Mar. 3 Electron Band Structure
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Mar. 5 Electron Band Structure
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Mar. 8 Semiconductors
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Mar. 10 Test 2 |
Mar. 12 Semiconductors
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| Mar. 15, Mar. 17, Mar. 19
SPRING BREAK |
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Mar. 22 Semiconductors
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Mar. 24 Semiconductors
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Mar. 26 HOLIDAY |
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Mar. 29 Semiconductors
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Mar. 31 Semiconductor Devices
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Apr. 2 Holiday: No Classes |
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Apr. 5 Semiconductor Devices
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Apr. 7 Semiconductor Devices
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Apr. 9 Semiconductor Devices
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Apr. 12 Optical Properties
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Apr. 14 Optical Properties
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Apr. 16 Optical Properties
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Apr. 19 Optical Properties
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Apr. 21 Test 3 | Apr. 23 Special Topics |
| Apr. 26 Special Topics | Apr. 28 Finals week starts | Apr. 30 Finals week, yet again. |
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Send me an email at wroberts@mtsu.edu
Contact Information
Dr. W. M. Robertson
MTSU Box X-116
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
Ph. (615) 898-5837
