Advanced Solid State Physics

Overview

Dielectrics, including: concepts of polarization, polarisability, Mossotti field, contributions to polarization, the Mossotti catastrophe, ferroelectricity, soft mode descriptions of ferroelectricity and antiferroelectricity, Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire theory, displacive versus order-disorder ferroelectrics.
Magnetism, including: underlying origin of magnetism, the link between dipole moment and angular momentum, diamagnetism, paramagnetism (classical and quantum treatments), ferromagnetism and the Weiss molecular field, antiferromagnetism.
Electronic transport in metals, including: Lorentz-Drude classical theories and the Sommerfeld quantum free electron model. Influence of band structure on electron dynamics and transport. Electron scattering.
Magnetotransport, including cyclotron resonance, magnetoresistance and Hall effect

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

Explain how lattice periodicity, structure and both classical and quantum mechanics lead to general concepts and observed properties of metals, dielectrics and magnetic materials.

Formulate specific theoretical models of the properties of metals, dielectrics and magnetic materials and use these to make quantitative predictions of material properties.

Skills

Problem solving. Searching for and evaluating information from a range of sources. Written communication of scientific concepts in a clear and concise manner. Working independently and meeting deadlines.

Assessment

NONE