Old Announcements

Current announcements are on the syllabus page.

Today is World Metrology Day, and we have a new kilogram standard! Read about it at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) site. Here is a Vox article that does a reasonable job of discussing it for the layperson (but note the error in the discussion of the units of Planck's constant!).

Some solid state physics in the news - ice-XVIII. https://physicstoday.scitation.org/do/10.1063/PT.6.1.20190517a/full/

The first part of hwk 5 has been posted.

The final exam will be held at the advertised time of Thursday June 13 in Weniger 304. Please bring a prepared sheet of notes, one side of one 8.5 x 11“ paper.

Midterm from 3-4 Friday May 3 in Weniger 304. Please bring a prepared sheet of notes, one side of one 8.5 x 11” paper.

I uploaded a new version of the density of states notes to try to make clear the distinction between D(k) and D(E).

Here is some fun news about topological insulators with good thermoelectric properties.

There is a new worksheet on the 4/15 day under “assignments” - you don't need t oturn it in, but it summarizes what we did in class and you should be able to construct it for the molecular orbitals of chain of any number of atoms.

There will be a make-up class on Tuesday 4/16 at 8am for those of you who will miss Mon 4/15 for the lunch with Dr. Wineland.

The physics colloquium on Monday 4/8 at 4pm in Wngr 328 (right after our class) is of interest. Prof. Vikram Deshpande of University of Utah will talk about topological insulators, 2D materials and carbon nanotubes.

The comprehensive exam for physics graduate students overlaps PH575 class time on Monday 4/1. In the Monday 4/1 class, there will be a review of mathematical concepts used in the class that should not be necessary for the physics grads (though I will repeat the class upon request). Others should attend. The first “official” class is on Wednesday 4/3.

2019 is the International Year of the Periodic Table, celebrating 150 years since Mendeleev discovered the period system. Explore this amazing scientific achievement.