SOLID STATE PHYSICS
Non relativistic Quantum Mechanics. Classical Electromagnetism, Elements of statistical Physics.
Final oral exam. An exercise involving an application of the topics presented in the lectures will be discussed by the student. Then, the candidate will be asked to introduce at least one of the main subjects of the course, including the mathematical derivations.
The minimal requirement to pass the exam is to possess a general idea of the contents of the various chapters of the course, with the capability of making statements on the main results obtained.
The aim of the course is to provide an introduction to solid state physics, including the phenomenology of crystalline solids and the main experimental methods used in this framework.
At the end of the course the student will be able to:
1) critically read and understand the literature on the subjects ;
2) recognize the underlying general features of crystalline solids on the basis of the paradigms presented in the course;
3) use the appropriate theoretical tools to interpret the physical properties of specific materials.
1) Bravais Lattices. Primitive vectors, unitary cell. Crystal structures. Lattices with bases. Reciprocal lattice and Brillouin zone. X-rays scattering: Bragg and Von Laue formulations.
2) Electronic levels in periodic potentials. Bloch theorem. Crystal momentum and group velocity. Weak potentials and perturbation theory. Tight binding method.
3) Semiclassical theory of electron dynamics. Electrons and holes. Effective mass. Relaxation time approximation. Electron dynamics in an electrostatic field. Drude-Sommerfeld model: electrical conductivity. Magnetostatic fields. Hall effect. Magnetoresistance and de Haas-van Alphen effect. Some example of band structure.
4) Classification of solids and cohesive energy in molecular crystals (Lennard-Jones potential), ionic crystals (Madelung constant), covalent crystals. Cohesion in metals.
5) Theory of the classical harmonic crystal. One dimensional examples (with and without basis): optical and acoustic branches. Three dimensional case. Quantum theory. Phonons and specific heat of crystals. Neutron diffraction: conservation laws. Scattering processes : zero and one phonon contributions.
6) Macroscopic approach to the electromagnetic properties of matter: polarizability and dielectric constant (Clausius-Mossotti relation). Kramers-Kronig relations and fluctuation-dissipation theorem. Plasma frequency. Microscopic model for dielectrics.
7) Effects of electron-electron interaction in metals. Screening and Thomas-Fermi approximation. Hohenberg-Kohn theorem and Density Functional Theory. Dynamical effects of electron-phonon interaction.
8) Elements about the origin of magnetism in matter and phenomenology of superconductivity.
The course is essentially based on lectures where the teacher presents each topic in full detail, including mathematical derivations followed by a discussion with the students on the physical implications of the results.