Condensed Matter Phyisics

Recommended Prerequisites

Mathematical Analysis I, II, and III; General Physics I and II; Fundamentals of Modern Physics; Quantum Mechanics; Statistical Physics.

Teaching Methods

Topics of the syllabus are developed in lectures; participation of students is  encouraged to develop their critical thinking and ability to understand and relate concepts. Students will be asked to solve proposed problems during practical classes, aiming at clarifying their ideas and uncertainties through the dialogue with colleagues and with the teacher. 

Learning Outcomes

Competences of Central Importance:
Theoretical understanding of physical phenomena.
Ability to solve problems.
Thorough general culture in Physics.

Competences of secondary importance:
Deep and autonomous learning ability.
Ability to search and use bibliography.
Knowledge of informatics to be used in the study of the field.

Generic competences to be achieved:
Competences in analysis and synthesis.
Competences in oral and written communication.
Competences in group work.
Competences to communicate with non-specialists in this field.
Competences in autonomous learning
Competences to apply the theoretical knowledge in practice.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Crystal structure of solids: description of the unit cell, symmetry elements and operations, Miller indices and fractional coordinates.
2. X-Ray, neutron and electron diffraction: Bragg's law and Laue equations. Atomic scattering factor and structure factor.

3. Electrons in solids: Drude and Sommerfeld models. Bloch electrons. Band structure of solids. Metals, semiconductors and insulators.

4. Tight-binding and other methods for the calculation of band-structures.

5. Semi-classical dynamics of Bloch electrons. Effective mass. Semi-classical theory of conduction in metals.
6. Dynamics of crystal lattices: vibration modes and dispersion relations.
7. Thermal properties of solids: models to calculate the specific heat, thermal conductivity, thermal expansion of the crystal lattice. 

Head Lecturer(s)

Fernando Manuel Silva Nogueira

Assessment Methods

Final assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Continuous assessment
Frequency: 100.0%

Bibliography

• "Solid State Physics", Neil W. Ashcroft & N. David Mermin, Cengage Learning, 1976, ISBN: 0030839939

• "Introduction to Solid State Physics", 8th Ed., Charles Kittel, Wiley, 2004, ISBN: 047141526X

• "The Oxford Solid State Basics", Steven H. Simon, Oxford University Press, 2013, ISBN: 0199680779

• "Solid State Physics", 2nd Ed., J. R. Hook & H. E. Hall, Wiley, 1991, ISBN: 0471928054

• "Solid State Physics", Gerald Burns, Academic Press, 1985, ISBN: 0121460711

• "Condensed Matter Physics", 2nd Ed., Michael P. Marder, Wiley, 2010, ISBN: 0470617985