Condensed Matter Physics

• Describe condensed matter systems qualitatively.
• Understand the concept of crystal momentum in condensed matter systems and how it relates to the energies of electrons and lattice vibrations.
• Operate with crystal lattices and symmetries both in real space and in reciprocal space (momentum space).
• Apply quantum mechanics on condensed matter systems to describe scattering of waves in crystals and to describe the eigenstates and the eigenenergies in systems with periodic boundary conditions.
• Construct theoretical models of the electronic and thermal properties of condensed matter systems, both in the single-particle picture.
• Explain the difference between insulators, semiconductors and metals.
• Apply the theoretical models to calculate the characteristic properties of materials (e.g. sound velocity, specific heat, electrical and themal conductivities, effective masses, band gaps, Fermi energies and momenta).
• Apply the theoretical models to calculate the electrical properties of a number of semiconductor devices of technological interest.
• Analyze problems in condensed matter systems and select and apply the appropriate models.
• Recognize and apply professional terminology in English.

Crystal lattices, reciprocal space, and X-ray diffraction, Phonons in the Einstein and Debye models. Electronic and lattice contributions to the heat capacity of solids. Electronic structure, Drude, Sommerfeld, free-, nearly-free-, and tight-binding models. Insulators, metals and semiconductors. Semiconductor devices.

10034/10018/10036/10041/10080/31400/10102/10104, Introductory courses on electromagnetism, quantum mechanics and optimally thermodynamics/statistical mechanics. For students who have not had the opportunity to follow a course in thermodynamics/statistical mechanics, the lecturers will refer to limited supplemental reading material.

Lectures and problem sessions