Condensed Matter Physics 1 (Independence 2026)

Objective

The aim of the course is to give an overview of the aim and scope of the field of condensed matter theory (CMP) which is to understand how microscopic constituents (atoms, electrons, ions, ...) organize themselves into different phases of matter. The approach we will take will be to learn about particularly successful theories describing solids, crystals, metals, semiconductors and magnets. Time permitting, we will also touch upon superconductivity. The subject of phase transitions (critical pheonomena) i.e. how a phase of matter transitions to another will largely not be covered.

Logistics

Lectures: Tuesdays, 13:30–14:55, Wednesdays, 11:05–12:30, Higgs
Tutorial and Quiz: Fridays: 13:30–14:55
Tutor: Kunal Singh, email: kunalsingh@hri.res.in
Evaluation criteria: 50% biweekly Quiz, 50% exams (25% mid-term, 25% end term)
75% class attandence mandatory
Please see your attendence, scores etc here

important dates

Mid-sem week: 5–11 Oct
CMP1 Mid-Sem: Oct 06, Tuesday, 1:30pm
Mid-sem break: 12–18 Oct
End-sem week: 23–29 Nov

Plan

Solids
Metals
Band theory, Insulators
Crystals structure
Semiconductors
Magnetism
Superconductors

References and resources

Oxford Solid State Basics by Steve Simon. See here for recordings of Steve's lectures based on the book.
Ashcroft and Mermin
Whence QFT by McGreevy
Lecture notes : last updated Sep 19, 2026
Handwritten notes for the lectures (see below)

handwritten notes

Part 1: Solids

Lec 1: Overview
Lec 2: Einstein's model for solids
Lec 3: Debye's improvement
Lec 4, Lec 5: Solids as coupled springs

Part 2: Metals

Lec 6: Drude's model
Lec 7, Lec 8: Sommerfeld's model
Lec 9, Lec 10, Lec 11: Boltzmann transport

Part 3: Bands, insulators

Lec 12, Lec 13: Nearly free electrons
Lec 14: Bloch's theorem

Quiz solutions

Announcements

No Class Oct 02 - Oct 16 (Gandhi Jayanti, Mid-term week, Mid-sem break). Classes resume on Oct 20.
Mid-term date: Tuesday, Oct 6. Syllabus: upto the material taught on Sep 25
Tutorial on Sep 30, quiz 3 to be distrubuted
No class on Wednesday, Sep 23
Quiz 3 on Tuesday, Sep 22
No class on Sep 15. Please attend the HRI Physics day.
Tutorial on Friday, Sep 11, quiz 2 to be distributed
Quiz 2 on Tuesday, Sep 1
Tutorial on Aug 21, quiz 1 to be distributed
Quiz 1 on Friday, Aug 14

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