Department of Physics

10ΥΕΚΑ05 Introduction to Solid State Physics

Course webpage:   https://eclass.uoa.gr/courses/PHYS296

Course outline

Course content

• The structure of solid matter. Bravais lattices. Unit cell.
• Reciprocal lattice. Diffraction from periodic structures. Bragg’s law.
• Attractive and repulsive interactions in solids, cohesion. Inert-gas crystals, ionic crystals, metals.
• Lattice vibrations. Exact solution of the monoatomic and diatomic linear chain. Phonons.
• Electron states in a periodic potential. The Kronig-Penney model. Metals, semiconductors and insulators.
• Semiclassical electron dynamics in a crystal. Crystal momentum, effective mass. Relaxation time, electric conductivity tensor.
• Laboratory experiments: The energy gap of germanium (Ge) semiconductor. Electron diffraction by pollycrystalline graphite.