Course finder
Semester 1
Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics (PHYS10099)
Subject
Physics and Astronomy
College
SCE
Credits
10
Normal Year Taken
4
Delivery Session Year
2023/2024
Pre-requisites
Course Summary
The course covers the properties of crystalline solids and other phases of condensed matter, building on Physics of [Fields and] Matter (PHYS08046/54) in Year 2. The focus is on developing an understanding of the structural, mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of solids and on gaining a sense for typical orders of magnitude of the relevant physical quantities. The concepts developed in this course will be illustrated with and applied to examples mostly from hard but also soft condensed matter physics. The overall aim is to give a firm grounding in the core concepts, which can be developed further and applied in SH/IM optional courses on condensed matter physics.
Course Description
Crystal Structures (Lectures 1&2) - symmetry properties - crystal systems & Bravais lattices - crystal planes & Miller indices Diffraction (L2-4) - diffraction as a Fourier transform process - structure factors and diffraction intensities - atomic scattering factors - systematic absences - diffraction from crystalline and non-crystalline substancesCrystal Binding and Interactions (L4-6) - van der Waals interaction - crystal energetics - van der Waals, ionic, metallic and covalent crystalsPhonons (L7-11) - phonons as elementary excitations - dispersion relations - thermal properties of insulators: heat capacity, thermal conductivity, thermal expansionElectrons in Solids (L11-15) - free and nearly-free electron Fermi gas - electronic band structures - thermal and electrical properties of metals - Fermi surfacesSemiconductors (L16-18) - band filling - band gaps - intrinsic semiconductors and doping - electrical conductivity of semiconductors
Assessment Information
Written Exam 80%, Coursework 20%, Practical Exam 0%
Additional Assessment Information
20% Coursework80% Examination
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