Physics 507 A: Graduate Solid State Physics I (Fall 2017)
Cross listed with Physics 438 (Undergrad. Solid State
Physics II)
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Professor Rogério de Sousa LecturesMondays 10:00 - 11:20 am, ECS 128 Thursdays 10:00 - 11:20 pm, ECS 128 Office hours Thursdays 2:00pm - 3:00pm, Elliott 117 How to send me a message: Use the Forum at CourseSpaces: http://coursespaces.uvic.ca/mod/forum/view.php?id=874425 That way all students will have access to our conversation. If you wish to send me a private message instead, please send it to my UVic email,  .TextbookDavid W. Snoke, "Solid State Physics: Essential Concepts" (Addison-Wesley, San Francisco, USA 2009). Note: Unfortunately, this book is currently out of print. A new edition is supposed to be released soon by Cambridge University Press. In the meantime, please use the library copy or follow my notes. There are many excellent textbooks on the phenomenology of the solid state, but most of these books have been written in the 1960's and 1970's, when an unified view of the main ideas of the field was still evolving. This recent book by Snoke takes a more unifying perspective, focusing on concepts rather than phenomenology. Other suggested books C. Kittel, "Introduction to Solid State Physics" (Wiley, New York, USA 8th Ed. 2000). Introductory textbook -- Should be used whenever any concept discussed in the advanced book is not clear. N.W. Ashcroft and N.D. Mermin, "Solid State Physics" (Saunders College, USA 1976). The classical point of view. Starting from metals, establishes the basic theory of electrons and phonons in crystals. Several illustrative examples of real materials. P.M. Chaikin and T.C. Lubensky, "Principles of Condensed Matter Physics" (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K. 1995). The modern point of view. Establishes the general framework for describing the phases of matter, based on symmetries and conservation laws. J.M. Ziman, "Principles of the Theory of Solids" (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge U.K. 1972). Elegantly written, excellent chapter on transport properties. C. Kittel, "Quantum Theory of Solids" (Wiley, New York, USA 1963; Second Revised Printing 1987). This is the book that will be used in the second part of the course; it gives a solid introduction to simple microscopic models, their quantum excitations, and how to probe them experimentally. E.M. Lifshitz and L.P. Pitaevskii, "Statistical Physics Part 2", Vol. 9 of Landau and Lifshitz's Course of Theoretical Physics (Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford U.K. 1980). Great description of Fermi liquid theory, and of the phenomenological (Landau) theory of magnetism. Michael Tinkham, "Introduction to Superconductivity" (McGraw-Hill, New York, USA 2nd Edition 1996). Great introduction to all aspects of superconductivity. Assignments
There will be 5 assignments; all of them are already posted online in this website. All assignments are due on Fridays at 5pm, at my office (please slip under my door if I am not there). Solutions will be posted in this website in the week following the due date. Grading Scheme Half of the grade will be based on the Assignments, with the other half based on an individual final course presentation given by each student. Final course presentation There are three options for the final presentation: Students should present either (1) A recent paper from the literature; (2) A classic paper from the literature, describing a groundbreaking discovery; (3) A review paper or a book chapter, describing an important topic not covered in class. Note that the deadline for choosing the paper or topic is February 19th. Students are welcome to discuss possibilities with me, and I am glad to suggest papers or topics.
How to succeed
Preliminary
Schedule
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