Af.8: Solid State Physics and Statistical Physics I

Af.8: Solid State Physics and Statistical Physics I

Contents

Statistical Physics:
Introduction to Statistical Physics with the statistical definition of entropy. The Canonical ensemble is discussed and applied to the ideal gas, and the Maxwell distribution is derived. Quantum statistics is introduced with application to the electron gas in a solid, as an example of a fermi gas, and to blackbody radiation and lattice vibrations in a solid, as examples of Bose gases.
Bose-Einstein condensates are discussed.

Solid State Physics:
Introduction to Solid State Physics. Crystals, crystal structures and the reciprocal lattice are discussed. The lattice vibrations (phonons) and their contribution to the specific heat of the solid are treated. The quantum mechanics of the electrons: Bloch states, free electrons, nearly free electrons and the tight-binding approximation. The dynamics of electrons is discussed in the relaxationtime approximation. Finally, semiconductors will be dealt with focusing on the p-n junction.

Text-books
F. Mandl: "Statistical Physics", John Wiley and Sons Ltd. and C. Kittel, "Introduction to Solid State Physics", John Wiley and Sons Ltd.

Evaluation and grading system
4 hours written exam. External marking. Evaluation: 13-scale.

Lecturer
Jens Ulrik Andersen and Axel Svane

ECTS credits
10 ECTS.

Quarter
1st and 2nd quarter, autumn 2003.