FY532: Physics of condensed matter I (5 ECTS)

STADS: 07012801

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the autumn semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: svt@sdu.dk

Additional teachers
zqex@sdu.dk

Timetable
There is no timetable available for the chosen semester.

Comment:
Samlæses med dele af FY508

Prerequisites:
Students taking the course are expected to:

• Have knowledge of basic classical mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism and quantum mechanics.
• Be able to use elementary mathematics to handle model descriptions based on physical laws.

Academic preconditions:
Students taking the course are expected to:

• Have knowledge of basic classical mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics
• Be able to use elementary mathematics to handle model descriptions based on physical laws.

Course introduction
The course gives an introduction to the physics of condensed matter with emphasis on crystalline materials. The student should after the course be able to explain on a quantum mechanical basis, theoretical models for the properties of solids and be able to apply these models to calculate mechanical, thermo-dynamical and electronic properties of matter. The course provides a basis for understanding the scientific literature on novel nano-structured materials and to further studies in material science, nano-technology and bio-physics.

The course builds on the knowledge acquired in the courses FY503, FY504, Fy521, FY522, FY523, FY524, and gives an academic basis for writing a bachelor and a master thesis in condensed matter physics.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

• Give the competence to handle complex problems and independently take part in interdisciplinary work and identify needs for and structure of own learning.
• Give skills to apply physical principles and mathematical tools to formulate and evaluate physical models.
• Give knowledge and understanding of the properties of condensed materials.

Expected learning outcome
The learning objectives of the course are that the student demonstrates the ability to:

• Recognize common crystal structures and describe their symmetries.
• Explain the physics of different types of bonds in crystalline structures
• Describe diffraction using the reciprocal lattice
• Determine the structure of crystalline materials by x-ray diffraction
• Use models to calculate dispersion relations for acoustical and optical phonons.
• Account for phonons impact on heat capacity and heat transport.
• Deduce Bloch's theorem from the Schrödinger equation for electrons in a periodic potential.
• Perform band structure calculations for simple systems in the weak potential- and in the Linear Combination of Atomic Orbitals approximations
• Describe the relation between electron band-structure and crystal symmetry.
• Explain the effective electron mass and apply it to describe electron dynamics in semiconductors.
• Describe the effect of doping on the electronic properties of semiconductors

Subject overview
The following main topics are contained in the course:

• Phase transitions
• Structure of liquids, correlation functions
• Atomic, intermolecular and colloid forces
• Crystalline solids
• Energy bonds in crystalline structures
• Reciprocal lattice
• Brillouin zones
• X-ray diffraction
• Acoustic and optical phonons. Dispersion relations
• Heat capacity and heat conductance
• Electron in a periodic potential
• Bloch's theorem
• Solution of the Schrödinger equation in two approximations:
  1. by Fourier expansion of the crystal potential
  2. by expansion in atomic orbitals
• Electron energy band structures
• Electron dynamics. Effective electron mass
• Electronic properties of semiconductors

Literature

• Elliott: Physics and Chemistry of Solids.
• Doi: Soft matter physics.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:

1. Oral exam. Evaluated by external censorship, assessment according to the 7-mark scale. No exam aids allowed. (5 ECTS). (07012802). 

Reexamination in the same exam period or immediately thereafter. The mode of exam at the re-examination may differ from the mode of exam at the ordinary exam.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 30 hours
Skills training phase: 20 hours, hereof:
 - Tutorials: 20 hours

Educational activities

• Self-study of the textbook and notes
• Written assignments
• Working with ~ 8 projects which involve writing a synopsis and preparation of an oral presentation of the topics in the assignments.
• Independent work with the topics in the intro- and skills training phase
• Preparation for the exam

Educational form

Language
This course is taught in Danish or English, depending on the lecturer. However, if international students participate, the teaching language will always be English.

Remarks
The course is co-read with FY508. The course cannot be chosen by students who passed FY508.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.