Solid State Physics

Review of atomic structure: Rutherford model of atom and drawbacks, Bohr model of atom and drawbacks, Sommer Feld’s relativistic atom model and draw backs, quantum theory of atoms, electronic configuration of atoms, periodic table and wave mechanical concept of atom.
Interatomic forces and bonding in solids: Potential energy function between atoms, cohesive energy, bonding types (interatomic and intermolecular) and properties, Madelung Constant and repulsive exponent, Born-Haber cycle, general physical properties of solids due to bonding.
Physics of crystals: Lattice points, space lattice, basic crystal structure, unit cell, lattice parameters, crystal systems, crystal operations, symmetry, space groups, Bravais space lattices, metallic crystal structures, Miller indices, crystal planes, allotropy and polymorphism, imperfections in crystals, reciprocal lattices.
Wave-particle dualism: de-Broglie hypothesis, experimental study of matter waves, the Davisson-Germer experiment, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, x-ray diffraction, Bragg’s law, Bragg’s x-ray spectrometer, correction for Bragg’s equation.
Electrical and thermal properties of metals: Classical free electron theory of metals and drawbacks, quantum theory of free electrons, classical and Schrödinger wave equation, importance and physical significance of Schrödinger equation, Fermi-Dirac statistics and electronic distribution in solids, density of states and Fermi energy, heat capacity of electron gas, mean energy of electron gas, electrical conductivity explained using quantum theory, electron-scattering mechanism and variation of resistivity with temperature, resistivity of alloys, thermal conductivity in metals, thermal expansion, band theory of solids, metals, insulators and intrinsic semiconductors.

Hours: XYZ where X = Lecture, Y = Lab, Z = Credit
All hours are per week.
3 Lab hours constitute 1 credit hour
1 credit hour implies 1 lecture of 50mins per academic week. 16 weeks in total.
Pre-Requisite courses are courses required to be completed before this course may be taken
Co-Requisite courses are courses required to be taken along with this course