Class Meetings:
MWF period 4 (10:40am–11:30am), NPB 1216.
Instructor:
Yasu Takano, takanoATphys.ufl.edu, NPB 2356, 392-9326.
Office hours:
TR period 7 (1:55pm–2:45pm).
Required text:
M. Ali Omar, Elementary Solid State Physics, revised printing (Addison Wesley, 1993).
Other recommended texts
Walter Harrison, Solid State Theory (Dover, 1980). A very good introductory text, particularly
on electronic bands. And it costs only $19.95 (list price).
Neil Ashcroft and David Mermin, Solid State Physics (Brooks Cole, 1976). The classic graduate text.
Charles Kittel, Introduction to Solid State Physics (Wiley, 1996). A well known undergraduate textbook,
but best to use it as a reference book.
Prerequisites: You must have taken Introduction to Modern Physics (PHY 3101) or an equivalent. To do well in the course, you need to know thermodynamics taught in Thermal Physics (PHY 3513), Physical Chemistry, or an engineering course that covers the subject. Having taken Quantum Mechanics I (PHY 4604) and/or concurrently taking Statistical Physics (PHY 4523) will be a plus but not necessary. The tools and concepts from quantum mechanics and statistical physics needed in this course but not covered by PHY 3101 will be thoroughly explained before their use.
Contents of the Course: Solid state physics—aka condensed matter physics—is a vast discipline in which more than 40% of physics research is being conducted. It deals with systems made of a large number of particles, usually ions and electrons, and is firmly based on quantum mechanics and statistical physics. This is also an area where physics often makes direct contributions to applications—microprocessors and other semiconductor devices, hard-drive readout, liquid-crystal displays, MRI, solar cells to name a few. As an introduction to this very active, important field of physics, the course will cover basic concepts and some of the important phenomena in solids.
Required reading: You are responsible for all material covered in the lectures and the first nine chapters of the textbook. The lectures will highlight only important points and provide supplementary information, rather than go over everything already discussed in the book. For this reason, you must come to the class having read the part of the textbook corresponding to each lecture.
Homework: There will be about 10 weekly homework assignments. Homework is usually due at the beginning of the class one week after being handed out. The scores of late homework will be reduced as follows: –25% if submitted one day late, –50% if submitted two days late. After two days, no late homework will be accepted. Homework solutions will be posted at E-Learning.
You are encouraged to study and work on homework problems with your classmates. For this process to be effective, however, you must first work individually. Needless to say, all handed work must be the own work of each student. No copying from other’s work, including direct copying from chalkboard, is allowed. You are encouraged to contact the instructor for help, if you have difficulties with any homework problems.
Exams: There will be two in-class tests and a comprehensive final exam. A one-page formula sheet will be provided at each exam, with the content of the formula sheet announced a week before each exam.
Grading: The grades will be based on the homework and exam scores as follows: homework (40%), in-class tests 1 and 2 (20% each), and final exam (20%).
The letter grades will be assigned according to the following scale—the numbers refer to the minimum score: A (80), B+ (75), B (67), C+ (62), C (57), D+ (52), D (45). There will be curving only if it works to the students’ advantage.
Web posting: Course announcements and schedule will be posted at the course home page. Homework assignments and solutions will be posted at E-Learning.
Students with disabilities: Students with disabilities requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then bring it to the instructor when requesting accommodation.
Academic honesty: All students are required to abide by the University's Academic Honesty Guidelines and by the Honor Code, which reads as follows. We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity. On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is either required or implied: "On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment." Cheating, plagiarism, or other violations of the Academic Honesty Guidelines will not be tolerated and will be pursued through the University's adjudication procedures.