- Docente: Ennio Bonetti
- Credits: 6
- SSD: FIS/03
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Physics (cod. 8025)
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course students acquire a background of basic
elements to understand physical properties of condensed matter. In
particular phenomenological models dealing with structural,
mechanical, thermal, magnetic and transport properties of
solids.
Course contents
I) Condensed Matter. Solid and liquid
states, a thermodynamic approach. Order-disorder : crystalline and
amorphous solids. Some experimental structure investigation
techniques. Structural stability and cohesion in solids : Van der
Waals interaction, ionic crystals, covalent crystals and
metals.
The Drude model for the metallic state : transport and optical
properties . The dynamic crystal : elastic waves. Thermal
properties in crystalline and amorphous solids thermal capacity and
conductivity. Structural defects. Limits of a classic approach to
solid state physics.
II) Electron theory of the metallic state. Free electrons .
Properties of the electron Fermi gas. Electrons in a periodic
potential. Bloch states. General properties.
Band structure. Fermi surface. Quantum theory of the harmonic
crystal. Phonons. Anharmonic crystals. Anharmonic effects : thermal
expansion, thermal conductivity. Magnetism in solids : electron
interactions and magnetic structures. Magnons.
Ferro-antiferromagnetic order. Superconductivity : the
superconducting transition, London equation, coherence lenght,
BCS theory, flux quantisation. Optical properties of
metals,plasmons. Elements of surface physics.
Readings/Bibliography
C. Kittel, "Introduction to solid state physics" Eight
Edition, Wiley 2005.
N. W. Ashcroft, N. D. Mermin, "Solid State Physics", Saunders 1976
P. M. Chaikin, T. C. Lubensky, "Principles of Condensed Matter Physics" Cambridege Unversity Press 1995.
Teaching methods
The subject matter is presented and discussed in a way to stimulate a comparative critical analysis of more recent theories and experimental investigation in the field
Teaching tools
PC, slide projector, transparencies
Office hours
See the website of Ennio Bonetti