ph334

Contents

1. Interaction of waves and matter - diffraction theory
   (by Zhongfu Zhou)
   (incl. problem sheet assignment)
2. Crystallography and diffraction
   (incl. practical with assignment, see below)
   • What is Condensed Matter?
   • Lattices, bases and unit cells
   • Bravais lattices and symmetry
   • Unit cells, Miller indices, and co-ordination polyhedra
   • Typical structure types of crystals
   • Plane groups, space groups
   • Lattice defects
   • Dislocation dynamics
   • Elastic constants
3. Electronic structure and energy bands
   (by Martin Wilding)
   (incl. assignment)
4. Structural modelling
   (by Martin Wilding)
5. Collective phenomena and phase transitions
   • H field and B field
   • Diamagnetism
   • Paramagnetism
   • Collective magnetism: ferromagnetism and its relatives
   • Ferroelectrics and piezoelectrics
   • Superconductivity
   • Phase transitions and their order
   • Order parameter approach to phase transitions
6. Phonons and spectroscopy
   (by Zhongfu Zhou)
   (incl. assignment)

Please note that theses notes are meant to help you revise. However, I may include additional material in the lectures or not cover all of the material listed here.

Diffraction practical

The practical takes place in the Materials Physics laboratory, which is located at the top of the stairs at the far end of the 1st-floor car park (next to the mechanical workshop). You can work in groups of two on one of four experiments of your choice.

• Instructions for the various x-ray diffraction experiments

Further reading

• The classic text in this field is Charles Kittel's Introduction to Solid State Physics. There are a number of copies of different vintage in the library, any of which will do nicely. There is a recent edition available, but the additions are at the boundaries of the course content. [Primo]
• Richard Tilley's Understanding Solids is another general book on the topic and includes a large number of self test exercises with solutions. [Primo]
• Martin Dove's Structure and Dynamics is very good and detailed on things like phase transitions, crystallography and order parameter theory. In these areas, it goes well beyond the lecture but doesn't cover all of the remaining topics. [Primo]
• Finally, for the more engineering-minded, JC Anderson, KD Leaver, RD Rawlings and JM Alexander's Materials Science is a good addition that will take you beyond the immediate course content. [Primo]