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CNSE 512 Quantum Theory of Solids II

Instructor: Prof. Y. Alex Xue

Office: CESTM B131 Phone: (518) 956-7220 Email: yxue@uamail.albany.edu

Meeting Tme and Location:

Class meets on every Tuesday and Thursday 2:45 – 4:00 PM (1/18/07 – 5/8/07) at Sullivan Auditorium - CESTM except Tuesday, April 10 where we shall meet at CESTM CR-1.

Office Hours:

Tuesday and Thursday 1:30 – 2:45 PM.

Course Description:

This is an introductory solid state physics course, in which we will apply the concepts and methods from quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics to examine the physical properties of solid state materials. Topics covered include Crystal Structure，Crystal Binding and Phonons, Free Electron Gas and Energy Band, and Semiconductors and Metals.

Required Text:

Charles Kittel, Introduction to Solid State Physics (8^th edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2004). We'll also use extensively materials from N.W. Ashcroft and N.D. Mermin, Solid-State Physics (Sauders, 1976).

Additional Recommended Reading:
H. Ibach and H. Luth, Solid-State Physics: An Introduction to Theory and Experiment (Springer-Verlag, 1993).

E. Kaxiras, Atomic and Electronic Structure of Solids (Cambridge University Press, 2003).

Prerequisites:

Calculus, Linear Algebra, Introductory classical mechanics, electromagnetism and quantum mechanics as covered in a General Physics course.

Homework:

8 homeworks will be assigned and due on the days specified in the syllabus. Teamwork is encouraged for solving the homework assignments, but solutions must be your own and handed in separately. The homework will be graded on a 1-10 scale. Each homework grade will contribute to 5% of the final grade.

Exams and Grades:

There will be a midterm exam and a final exam. Grade distribution: 40% homework, 30% midterm, 30% final exam. Midterm exam will be held on the week of March 5.

Weekly Course Schedule:

Chapter, page and homework problem numbers are all referred to the textbook. You should read the course materials before you come to the class.

Week Date Tuesday Thursday Homework

1 1/15 Ch.1, p.1-p.13.

2 1/22 Ch.1, p.13-p.22 Ch.2, p.23-p.33 HW1 (Ch.2, 1-5) Due 2/06

3 1/29 Ch.2, p.33-p.43 Review of Ch.1-2

4 2/5 Ch.3, p.47-p.67 Ch.3, p.67-p.76 HW2 (Ch.3, 2,5,9,11,13) Due 2/15

5 2/12 Ch.3, p.77-p.85 Ch.4, p.89-p.95

6 2/19 Winter Break HW3 (Ch.4, 1-5) Due 2/27

7. 2/26 Ch.4, p. 95-p.102 Ch.5, p.105-p.112 HW4 (Ch.5, 1-4) Due 3/8

8 3/5 Ch.5, p.112-p.119 Midterm Exam

9 3/12 Ch.5, p.119-p.123 Ch.5, p.124-p.128 HW5 (Ch.6, 1-5) Due 3/27

10 3/19 Ch.6, p.131-p.141 Ch.6, p.141-p.147

11 3/26 Ch.6, p.147-p.152 Ch.6, p.152-p.157 HW6 (Ch.6, 6,9,10) Due 4/10

12 4/2 Spring Break

13 4/9 Ch.7, p.161-p.169 Ch.7, p.169-p.177 HW7 (Ch.7, 1-4,6) Due 4/19

14 4/16 Ch.7, p.177-p.182 Ch.8, p.185-p.194

15 4/23 Ch.8, p.194-p.202 Ch.8, p.202-p.209 HW8 (Ch.8, 1-5) Due 5/3

16 4/30 Ch.8, p.209-p.217 Ch.17 Semiconductor Structures

17 5/7 Ch.18 Nanostructures

Spring 2007 Final Exam Solution (.pdf)

Lecture Notes:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2

Chapter 3
Week 5
Week 7 & 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Week 17

Homework Solutions: Will be posted one week after due date.
HW1 Solution
HW2 Solution
HW3 Solution
HW4 Solution
HW5 Solution
HW6 Solution
HW7 Solution
HW8 Solution