2020 Advanced Solid State Physics a

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Academic unit or major
Graduate major in Materials Science and Engineering
Instructor(s)
Nakatsuji Kan  Gohda Yoshihiro 
Class Format
Lecture    (ZOOM)
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Mon3-4(Zoom)  Thr3-4(Zoom)  
Group
a
Course number
MAT.M407
Credits
2
Academic year
2020
Offered quarter
3Q
Syllabus updated
2020/9/18
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
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Course description and aims

This lecture covers fundamentals of solid state physics, where electron theory as the basics of materials science is mainly discussed. The course teaches the electronic band theory from the basics which describes the electronic states of solids. The "nearly free-electron model" and the "tight-binding approximation" will be introduced as the simplest and most valuable models in the band theory. First-principles electron theory is discussed as one of the most important topics in advanced solid state physics. First-principles electron theory is cutting-edge non-empirical electron theory applied for numerical simulations. Hartree-Fock approximation is discussed, where the exchange effect coming from the Fermi-Dirac statistics is taken into account. Then, wave-function theory and density functional theory is introduced.
Applications to the electronic states of low-dimensional materials and metallic microstructure interfaces are discussed to deepen the understanding.

Student learning outcomes

By completing this course, students will be able to:
1) Understand that the electronic states govern the material properties microscopically.
2) Understand the free-electron metallic states as the simplest itinerant electron system.
3) Understand that the electron states of solid crystals become Bloch states.
4) Understand that many-body effects among electrons reduce the Coulomb-repulsion energy.
5) Understand the basics of first-principles electron theory to describe electronic states non-empirically.

Keywords

crystal structure, reciprocal lattice, Brillouin zone, electronic band structure, nearly free-electron model, tight-binding approximation, phonons, first-principles electronic-structure theory, Born-Oppenheimer approximation, Hartree-Fock approximation, density functional thoery

Competencies that will be developed

Specialist skills Intercultural skills Communication skills Critical thinking skills Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

At the beginning of the class (not each class), solutions to exercise problems assigned during the previous class are reviewed.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Fermi-Dirac statistics and free electron gas Explain how the energy of free-electron gas is described in Fermi-Dirac statistics.
Class 2 Space symmetry and crystal structures Explain the Bravais lattice and typical lattice structures.
Class 3 Reciprocal lattice and Brillouin zone Calculate the reciprocal lattice vectors of some typical lattices and draw the Brillouin zone.
Class 4 Bloch's theorem Understand that the wave functions of valence band electrons in crystals obey Bloch's theorem.
Class 5 Nearly free electron model Explain nearly free electron (NFE) model and the origin of the band gap.
Class 6 Fermi surface Understand the relationship between the shape of the Fermi surface and crystal and electronic structures.
Class 7 Tight-binding model, Low-dimensional system and nano-materials Explain the tight-binding approximation of the valence band structure. Moreover, underatand how the NFE model and tight-binding approximation are applied to describe the electronic structure of low-dimensional materials.
Class 8 Structural phase transition Understand structural phase transition and the free energy.
Class 9 Bose-Einstein statistics and phonons Understand phonons through the language of Bose-Einstein statistics.
Class 10 Born-Oppenheimer approximation Understand the Born-Oppenheimer approximation.
Class 11 Hartree-Fock approximation Understand Hartree-Fock approximation and wave-function theory.
Class 12 Density functional theory Understand density functional theory.
Class 13 Application of first-principles electronic-structure theory I: ferromagnetism in metals Understand how first-principles calculations play roles in solid state physics through studying applications to ferromagnetism in metals
Class 14 Application of first-principles electronic-structure theory II: magnetic materials Understand how first-principles calculations play roles in solid state physics through studying applications to magnetic materials

Out-of-Class Study Time (Preparation and Review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

Lecture notes are distributed if necessary.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Kittel: Introduction to Solid State Physics,
R.M. Martin, Electronic structure,
Oshiyama et al.: Computations and Materials (in Japanese)

Assessment criteria and methods

Learning achievement is evaluated by a final exam.

Related courses

  • MAT.M408 : Quantam Statistical Mechanics
  • MAT.M409 : Themodynamics for Phase Equilibria
  • MAT.C406 : Advanced Course of Magnetism
  • MAT.C505 : Computational Materials Science
  • MAT.C414 : Introduction to Solid State Science

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

It is desirable that the students have learned basics of quantum mechanics.

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