NaCCOC crystal


Intro to Solid State Physics

PHYS 474, Spring 2011

 

Instructor:      Prof. M. Franz [Henn 336, franz(at)physics(dot)ubc(dot)ca]

Lectures:         M-W-F  11:00-12:00,  Hebb 12
Office hours:   M          14:00-15:00 and by appointment in Henn 336

Course TA:            Zheng Shi  [zshi(at)physics(dot)ubc(dot)ca]
TA office hours:     Th 15:00-16:00 in Henn 418

Textbook (available in the bookstore, at amazon.ca or chapters.indigo.ca):
Other useful texts (placed on reserve in the library):
Grades will be determined based on weekly assignments, two midterms, and the final exam (20/40/40).


Course announcements:

Assignments:

Numbers below refer to problems in the textbook, 8th edition. (If you have an earlier edition please make sure that you are solving correct problems as the numbering and wording of problems can differ.) The first number refers to the chapter, the second to the problem: 2.3 denotes problem 3 in chapter 2.

Assignment #
 Due date
 Problems
1
 Jan. 10
 click here
2
 Jan. 19
 click here (Solution)
3
 Jan. 26
  2.5, 2.6, 3.1, 3.3 (Solution)
4
 Feb. 2
  3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 4.1 (Solution)
5
 Feb. 11
  click here  (Solution)
6
 March 2
  6.2, 6.3, 6.5, 6.6 (Solution)
7
 March 9
   click here   (Solution)
8
 March 16
  7.2, 7.3, 7.6 (Solution)
9
 March 23
  8.1, 8.3, 8.4 (Solution)
10
 April 4
  click here   (Solution)
11
 -
   10.1, 10.2, 10.5*







*This assignment will not be collected or graded. It is however strongly recommended that you work out the problems as part of your preparation for the final. Solutions will be posted on April 19th in the morning.


Working out the assignments is perhaps the single most important aspect of this course, absolutely essential for understanding the material. In order to receive full credit assignment must be handed in by the end of the lecture on the due date. If you foresee a serious conflict that might prevent you from completing the problems by the due date please let me know well ahead of time. I will consider extending the due date if the conflict affects several students in the class.  In fairness to other students who completed assignment on time last minute requests for extension will not be granted.

Late homework policy: Homeworks handed in after the deadline will have their score reduced by a factor (1-t/T) where t is the time past due in hours and T=24h. After 24 hours solutions are posted on the course website and no more homeworks are accepted. IMPORTANT NOTE: For all the late homeworks responsibility lies with the student to hand-deliver the later to the instructor or course TA and have it time-stamped. There is no guarantee that the instructor or TA will be available to accept the homework outside the lectures and office hours and no other person is authorized to do this. If you leave your paper in the mailbox or under the door it will be time-stamped when found.
It is by far best to hand in assignments on time!

Course outline:

This course provides an undergraduate-level introduction to the fundamental concepts of condensed matter physics.  It is assumed that students are fluent in the basic concepts of quantum mechanics, statistical physics and thermodynamics.  We shall cover material roughly equivalent to chapters 1-10 in the Kittel textbook with the emphasis on understanding the fundamental principles and concepts. The following topics will be discussed:

  1. Introduction: Solids as interacting quantum many-body systems
  2. Crystal structure
  3. Lattice vibrations
  4. Free electron theory
  5. Electrons in a periodic potential
  6. Metals
  7. Superconductivity
  8. Depending on time and student interest some of the following additional topics may be discussed: