General Information for PH575, Spring 2019

Introduction to Solid State Physics (PH575) is a 3-credit introduction to the physics of condensed matter for graduate students in physics, chemistry and engineering areas in which materials science is important. Senior undergraduates in physics will also find the course accessible. Topics include the theoretical basis of the electronic structure of solids, viewed from the real-space perspective of the interactions between atoms; the free electron description and physical properties of electrically conducting materials; semiconductors; optical properties of materials; the origins of magnetism; lattice excitations (phonons), and nanoscience. The goal is to understand the concepts underlying modern condensed matter physics and to become familiar with some of the experimental and computational techniques available to test those concepts. A major project is the computation of the band structure of a real material using density functional theory.

Detailed course content is found at http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu/~tate/COURSES/ph575

• PH451/551 or equivalent and PH427/527 are recommended.

• Prof. Janet Tate, Weniger 485; 737-1700; tate at physics.oregonstate.edu
• Office hours (to be confirmed): Tuesdays & Thursdays 2-3 or by appointment
• TA: Mitchell Senger (sengermi at oregonstate.edu)

• Class meets MWF at 3:00 pm - 3:50 pm in WNGR 304
• Midterm 1 - Friday week 5; Midterm 2 - Wednesday week 8, both in class.
• The final exam is on (Time TBA) in (Location TBA, probably Weniger 304).
• General announcements use the official university email list in Canvas. Please make sure email is forwarded from your onid account to the email account you normally use.

• Homework - 15%
• Midterm 1 - 25%
• Paper & poster - 30%; (see Papers/Posters link)
• Final exam - 30%; comprehensive, but with emphasis on the second part of the course

Exam and midterm topics may be discussed in lectures, assigned for homework, or for reading. An equation sheet compiled by the student, covering one side of an 8.5“ x 11” page, is permitted.

Homework solutions, homework scores and test grades will be posted on Canvas. Please inform me of any recording errors.

There will be about 6 homework sets, due roughly every 1-2 weeks. Problems will include text-book type problems, and also reading assignments from the current literature. Check the web page for assignments and due dates. Assignments turned in after solutions are posted will earn less than full credit. Turn in partially completed assignments by the due date and the rest later for partial credit. Pay attention to your presentation - physical insight and clear explanations are as important than the mathematical manipulation. Clarity, logical structure, spelling, grammar, and neatness contribute to the overall assessment. Make your solutions a model that a student entering PH575 could work from.

Please make a copy of your solution for your own use before you turn it in. This will allow you to compare to the posted solutions immediately.

Upon completion of PH575, students are expected to be able to:

1. Calculate the band structure of simple structures analytically, and interpret the band structure of more complex structures, based on a thorough understanding of bonding in a solid.
2. Compute the band structure of a real material using modern software.
3. State and predict the responses of metals, semiconductors and insulators to electrical and optical influences.
4. Describe magnetism and phonon processes in solids.
5. Apply band structure knowledge to understand nanostructures.
6. Have a good general knowledge of important properties and materials parameters of metals and semiconductors, including the approximate scales of relevant properties (e.g. band gap, resistivity, frequencies, lattice parameters, and so on.)

• REQUIRED: (S) Sutton, A.P., Electronic Structure of Materials, Oxford, 1993. ISBN 0-19-851754-8 (Required)
• RECOMMENDED: either (K) Kittel, C., Introduction to Solid State Physics, Wiley, 2004,8e, (earlier editions OK) or (AM) Ashcroft and Mermin, Solid State Physics, Brooks Cole, 1976 (used for PH671 etc.)
• ALSO: (Mc) McIntyre, D. H., Quantum Mechanics, Addison Wesley, 2012. Ch.15 is particularly relevant.

If you choose not to purchase Kittel or Ashcroft, some other equivalent text may be used. Older editions of listed textbooks are usually OK, but the reading lists and homework assignments may not correspond to the syllabus.

The library is a vital resource - use it! Alternative text books, ebooks, journals, and more are housed in the shelves or are available online if you use your oregonstate.edu account. The following texts may be useful and some are on reserve:

• (S) Sutton, A. P., Electronic Structure of Materials, QC176.8.E4 S875 1993
• (AM) Ashcroft, N.W. and Mermin, N.D., Solid State Physics, QC176 .A83 (graduate text; the standard)
• (H) Harrison, W.A., Electronic Structure and the properties of solids, QC176.8.E4 H37 (Graduate level)
• (K) Kittel, C., Introduction to Solid State Physics, 7th ed, QC176 .K5 1996
• (M) Marder, M. P., Condensed Matter Physics, QC173.454 .M37 2000 (graduate, more modern than AM; 2010 edition not at OSU)
• (YV) Yves, J and Voltatron, F (translated by J. Burdett), An introduction to molecular orbitals, QD461 .J4313 1993
• (R) Rosenberg, H., The Solid State, QC176 .R67 1988 (Undergraduate level)
• (RH) Hoffman, Roald, Solids and surfaces : a chemist's view of bonding in extended structures, QD471 .H83 1988

There are many online resources - ebooks, web pages, YouTube videos, Mathematica programs etc. Please see the Online resources link in the sidebar.

Normal OSU add/drop and final exam procedures apply in this class. Click on the links to access the official university webpages for the dates. (Spring 2019 finals schedule had not been published at time of writing).

Accommodations for students with disabilities are determined and approved by Disability Access Services (DAS). If you, as a student, believe you are eligible for accommodations but have not obtained approval, please contact DAS immediately at 541-737-4098 or at http://ds.oregonstate.edu. DAS notifies students and faculty members of approved academic accommodations and coordinates implementation of those accommodations. Students and faculty members are encouraged to discuss details of the implementation of individual accommodations, but this is not required.

Science is inherently a social and collaborative effort, each scientist building on the work of others. Nevertheless, each student must ultimately be responsible for her or his own education. Therefore, you are expected to abide by a number of ground rules:

• In your interactions in class and outside of class, be mindful of the principles outlined in this flyer distributed by the National Science Foundation.
• We encourage students to work with classmates, other students, and the faculty in a professional and responsible way. Each student is expected to turn in assignments that have been independently synthesized and written. This applies also to, and especially to, computer assignments. Ask questions and discuss, but never simply copy answer without providing your own synthesis and interpretation. Likewise, help your peers by discussing and explaining, not simply providing an answer to be copied.
• Homework solutions from previous years are very strictly off-limits. You are on your honor not to use them, and never to share your homework solutions with other students, now or in the future. Likewise, the solutions are for your personal use only. You may keep one copy in your personal files.
• Sources must be appropriately documented. If you follow a line of reasoning from another text, reference it properly (it will help you locate the resource later, too). If someone else helps you solve a problem, reference that too. In a research paper, the appropriate reference would be: Jane Doe, (private communication).
• Plagiarism - representing someone else's work as your own - is unethical, but collaboration and exchange of ideas is healthy. You can avoid collaborative efforts taking on the look of plagiarism by acknowledging sources and by writing up your work independently.
• Be constantly aware that your behavior is in strict compliance with the letter and the spirit of the rules concerning professional conduct. You should know the contents of OSU's webpage devoted to the topic of student conduct and you should pay close attention to the sub-link on academic misconduct.

The Department of Physics and the College of Science strive to create an affirming climate for all students including underrepresented and marginalized individuals and groups. Diversity encompasses differences in age, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, physical or mental ability, religion, socioeconomic background, veteran status, sexual orientation, and marginalized groups. We believe diversity is the synergy, connection, acceptance, and mutual learning fostered by the interaction of different human characteristics.”