Physics 175A, Introduction to Solid State Physics.
This is an elective for junior/senior undergraduate students.
Spring 2018
General class information:
Location: SCI 320
Time: Lecture Mon, Wed, 10:00am - 11:15am
Office hours: Mon 1:30-2:30 pm
Class material:
Required textbook:
Introduction to the Physics of Electrons in Solids.
Brian K. Tanner, Cambridge University Press
1st edition, 1995
(It is available on Amazon as well as at SJSU bookstore)
Other recommended books:
Elementary Solid State Physics.
M. Ali Omar
The Materials Physics Companion
Anthony C. Fischer-Cripps
Homework:
All homework is due on the due date at the beginning of class. No late homework will be accepted.
Week of Jan 29th:
Reading assignments:
Chapter 1 from the textbook
Appendix I from the textbook
"Fifty Years of Condensed Matter Physics" essay
Watch "So Close and Such a Stranger" video (see below)
Homework #1, due Feb 5, before class.
Week of Feb 5th:
Reading assignments: Chapters 2 and 3 from the textbook
Homework #2, due Feb 12, before class.
Week of Feb 12th:
Reading assignments: Chapters 4.1-4.3 from the textbook
Homework #3, due Feb 26, before class.
Week of Feb 19th:
Reading assignments: slides, lecture notes
Week of Feb 26th:
Reading assignments: Chapters 4.4-4.7 from the textbook
Homework #4, due March 7, before class.
Week of March 5th:
March 5th - midterm exam #1
Reading assignments: Notes
Week of March 12th:
Electrical conduction in semiconductors and insulators
Reading assignments: Ch. 5, Ch. 6
Homework #5, due March 19, before class.
Week of March 19th:
Reading assignments: Ch. 6
Week of April 2nd:
Semiconductor devices
Reading assignments: Ch. 7
Homework #6, due April 11, before class.
Week of April 9th:
Reading assignments: Ch. 8
Homework #7, due April 18, before class.
Week of April 16th:
Reading assignments: Ch. 8
Week of April 23th:
Reading assignments: Ch. 8, 9
Exam #2
Week of April 30th:
Reading assignments: Ch. 9
Week of May 7th:
Reading assignments: Ch. 10
Exams:
Exam #1: March 5, 2018
Exam #2: April 25, 2018
Final exam: May 17, 2018, 7:00am – 9:30am
Lecture slides:
Ferromagnetism
Reading assignments:
The development of the quantum-mechanical electron theory of metals
An essay on condensed matter physics in the twentieth century
Semiconductor research leading to the point contact transistor
Other condensed matter related material:
Final presentations:
