Phys 4211.001

PHYSICS 4211 INTRODUCTION TO SOLID STATE PHYSICS.- SYLLABUS

1.- General

The course is a general introduction to Solid State
Physics. It covers the basic
ideas and techniques of the subject, plus a number of examples
to illustrate how the basic ideas are applied.
No previous exposure to Solid State Physics is assumed.
It is typically taken by seniors and juniors in Physics
and related fields and also by graduate students (usually
first year Physics or EE majors) that have had little or no previous
exposure to the subject.

Some previous knowledge of Classical and Quantum Mechanics,
Electricity & Magnetism, and Statistical Physics at the undergraduate
level will be assumed. Students without some of these
informal prerequisites are still welcome to the course if
they are willing to do some self-study. Prospective students
with doubts or questions about these issues should contact the
instructor.

The emphasis in this course is mainly
on basic science. The Physics Department offers an alternative
more applied course, intended primarily for students (non-Physics
majors) with a poor Physics background. This
alternative course is not more advanced (despite its 5-number)
but has a very different emphasis and assumes much less previous
knowledge of Physics.

2.- Specific Topics

The topics for the course are listed below. Topics A-H will be
covered. Some or all of topics I-L will be included, depending
on what time allows

A.- Introduction, fundamental concepts.
B.- Free electron gas.
C.- Crystal structure and its determination.
D.- Lattice dynamics: phonons.
E.- Band structure.
F.- Semiconductors.
G.- Metals
H.- Insulators. Optical properties.
I.- Superconductors.
J.- Dielectrics, Ferroelectrics.
K.- Magnetism. Magnetic resonance.
L.- Surfaces, defects, amorphous solids.

3.- Textbooks

The textbook for the course will be Kittel's "Introduction to
Solid State Physics." The eighth edition is available at the
bookstore, but any edition from the fifth on is adequate. Save
money.

4.- Homework, Lectures

There will be approximately weekly homework sets given out, on
Mondays. Sets will be due one week after and no late
homework can be accepted.

You cannot learn Physics by talking about it.
Therefore, a fundamental expectation of the course is
that students will attempt to solve all homework problems. This
will be enforced as explained below.

The homework sets will be graded. Each problem will be
assigned two grades. The first will be a standard grade, based on
the correctness of the solution. The second
grade will be on a binary scale: one point if an intelligent attempt has been
made to solve the problem (even if the attempt was not
successful), and
a zero otherwise. Solutions will be posted on the course web site.
Some of the homework problems may require numerical work,
although no programming virtuosity is expected.

There are three class meetings a week. There are no
recitations, but the Wednesday meeting
will begin with a brief discussion period where the students
will have a chance to ask extended and general questions about
the homework and the topics presented in class. This is not at
all intended to discourage students from asking questions at
other class times or at office hours, but to give them a chance
to ask the kind of deeper questions which arise in the course of
studying and solving homework problems and which can provoke
useful class discussion.

5.- Exams and grades

There will be one one-hour midterm on March 2nd,
and a final exam at a date and time set by the University.
The final will count twice as
much as the midterm. The final grade will be
determined 80% from the exams and 20% from the standard
homework grade. The result will be multiplied by the
percentage of problems attempted (see above) and then the
square root will be taken (geometric mean). Thus, a student
attempting all the homework would see a grade of 64% converted
to 81%, that is (see below) a C will turn into a B+.
This means that students attempting all the homework will have their
grade very substantially enhanced. The converse is true.

Letter grades will be based on overall score with 5% intervals corresponding
to +/- increments, that is 15% increments corresponding to every letter.
Thus, you need 45% to get a D, 55% to get C-, 70% to get B-, 85% to get A-.
This scheme awards A+ to students getting 95% or higher. The University, for
some bizarre reason, does not recognize the A+ grade, students earning one will
have a plain A in their official transcripts, but will receive an email from
the Instructor (which they can frame if they wish) informing them. Students
taking the course on an S/F basis must earn at least a C-, a D level grade
is not satisfactory.

6.- Office hours

There will be office hours, at 350B, at times announced in class
after the students' schedules are known.

7.- Information

The web site of the course is at:
http://www.physics.umn.edu/courses/2011/spring/Phys 4211.001/index.html
Homework solutions and other information about the course is posted
there. Check frequently for updates.

OFFICIAL WARNING

No cheating or other unprofessional behavior will be tolerated. The minimum
penalty for cheating is an automatic F for the course. All cases will be
considered for whatever maximum the Supreme Court allows.