FY543: Physics of condensed matter

Study Board of Science

Teaching language: Danish or English depending on the teacher, but English if international students are enrolled
EKA: N500044102
Assessment: Second examiner: External
Grading: 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Autumn
Level: Bachelor

STADS ID (UVA): N500044101
ECTS value: 10

Date of Approval: 12-05-2020


Duration: 1 semester

Version: Archive

Comment

Part of the course is co-read with FY548: Solid state physics (5 ECTS).

The course is identical to the previous course titled FY508 (UVA N500005101). This means that if you have previously taken exam attempts in FY508, these attempts will be transferred to this new course.

Entry requirements

The course cannot be followed by students who have passed FY508.

Academic preconditions

Students taking the course are expected to:

  • Have knowledge of basic classical mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics
  • Be able to use elementary mathematics to handle model descriptions based on physical laws.

Course introduction

The course gives an introduction to the physics of condensed matter, including crystalline and amorphous solids and soft materials like polymers and liquid crystals. The course gives an introduction to the theoretical models and experimental methods used to describe and measure the mechanical and thermo dynamical properties of matter and is an introduction to further studies in material science, nano-technology and bio-physics.

The course builds on the knowledge acquired in the courses Electromagnetism (FY534), Advanced Mechanics and Relativity Theory (FY546) / (old curriculum: Classical physics (FY504)), Quantum mechanics I and II (FY544 and FY547) / (old curriculum: Introductory quantum mechanics I and II (FY521 and FY522)), Thermal physics I (FY523) and Statistical physics (FY550) / (old curriculum: Thermal physics II (FY524)), and gives an academic basis for studying the topics in Advanced statistical physics (FY828) and writing a bachelor and a master thesis in condensed matter physics.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

  • Give the competence to handle complex problems and independently take part in interdisciplinary work and identify needs for and structure of own learning.
  • Give skills to apply physical principles and mathematical tools to formulate and evaluate physical models.
  • Give knowledge and understanding of the properties of condensed materials.

Expected learning outcome

The learning objectives of the course are that the student demonstrates the ability to:
  • Recognize common crystal structures and describe their symmetries.
  • Explain the physics of different types of bonds in crystalline structures
  • Describe diffraction using the reciprocal lattice
  • Determine the structure of crystalline materials by x-ray diffraction
  • Use models to calculate dispersion relations for acoustical and optical phonons.
  • Account for phonons impact on heat capacity and heat transport.
  • Deduce Bloch's theorem from the Schrödinger equation for electrons in a periodic potential.
  • Perform band structure calculations for simple systems in the weak potential- and in the Linear Combination of Atomic Orbitals approximations
  • Describe the relation between electron band-structure and crystal symmetry.
  • Explain the effective electron mass and apply it to describe electron dynamics in semiconductors.
  • Describe the effect of doping on the electronic properties of semiconductors
  • Describe the phenomenology of soft materialers in particular polymers, colloids, surfactants and liquid crystals
  • describe the relation between macroscopic material properties and molecular/mesoscopic structures
  • edscribe statistical mechanical models of soft condensed materials
  • apply statistical mechanical theories to predict material properties

Content

The following main topics are contained in the course:
  • Phase transitions
  • Structure of liquids, correlation functions
  • Atomic,  intermolecular and colloid forces
  • Crystalline solids
  • Energy bonds in crystalline structures
  • Reciprocal lattice.
  • Brillouin zones
  • X-ray diffraction
  • Acoustic and optical phonons. Dispersion relations
  • Heat capacity and heat conductance
  • Electron in a periodic potential.
  • Bloch's theorem
  • Solution of the Schrödinger equation in two approximations: by Fourier expansion of the crystal potential and by expansion in atomic orbitals
  • Electron energy band structures
  • Electron dynamics. Effective electron mass.
  • Electronic properties of semiconductors
  • Phenomenological description of heterogeneous, amorphous materials and glasses
  • Practical examples of semiconductor compounds
  • Phenomenological description of heterogeneous, amorphous materials and glasses 
  • Practical examples of semiconductor compounds 
  • Characteristic material properties of soft-condensed materials
  • Thermodynamical description of mixtures and predictions of phase diagrams
  • Polymer physics and statistical mechanical models of polymer materials.
  • Continuum elasticity theory, stress and strain tensors
  • Surface tension, wetting and surface active molecules
  • Self-assembly af surfactants and micelles
  • Dispersions interactions between colloidal particles and stability of colloidal solutions
  • Maier-Saupe and Onsager theory of liquid crystals
  • Characterization of soft-condensed materials via scattering techniques
  • Characterization of soft-condensed materials via rheological techniques

Literature

Elliott: Physics and Chemistry of Solids.
Doi: Soft matter physics.
See itslearning for syllabus lists and additional literature references.

Examination regulations

Exam element a)

Timing

January

Tests

Oral examination

EKA

N500044102

Assessment

Second examiner: External

Grading

7-point grading scale

Identification

Student Identification Card

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

To be announced during the course

ECTS value

10

Additional information

Re-examination in the same exam period or immediately thereafter.

Indicative number of lessons

100 hours per semester

Teaching Method

On the faculty og science, teaching is organized after the three-phase model ie. intro, training and study phase.

Teacher responsible

Name E-mail Department
Sven Tougaard svt@sdu.dk Institut for Fysik, Kemi og Farmaci

Additional teachers

Name E-mail Department City
Carsten Svaneborg zqex@sdu.dk Institut for Fysik, Kemi og Farmaci

Timetable

Administrative Unit

Fysik, kemi og Farmaci

Team at Educational Law & Registration

NAT

Offered in

Odense

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