Condensed Matter Phyisics draws on concepts from many areas covered in the first two years:
mechanics, thermodynamics, quantum physics, statistical physics all contribute to the range
of properties that make solids and liquids distinct. The module covers electronic and structural
aspects of condensed matter along with mechanical, electronic and magnetic phenomena. A range
of experimental techniques used in condensed matter physics are introduced as we go along, with
an emphasis on x-ray diffraction, including a practical exercise.
Contents
The first three sections below are taught in ph324 in sem.1, the remaining sections belong to ph338
in sem.2. Electronic structure is covered in detail in the Science of Semiconductors module, and
a short introduction from a quantum-mechanical
background is available on this website.
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Crystallography and diffraction
(incl. assignment)
-
Magnetic states of matter
- H field and B field
- Magnetic effects in atoms
- Diamagnetism
- Paramagnetism
- Collective magnetism: ferromagnetism and its relatives
- Ferroelectrics and piezoelectrics
-
Thermal properties of crystal lattices
(by Zhongfu Zhou)
(incl. assignment)
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Defects and disorder
(incl. diffraction workshop, see below)
- Point defects, defect equilibria, diffusion
- Dislocations and their motion, material strength
- Stacking faults
- Amorphous structures, glass transition
- Measuring defects and disorder by diffraction
- Synchrotron x-ray and neutron scattering techniques
-
Superconductivity
(by Martin Wilding)
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Superfluidity
(by Martin Wilding)
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Bose-Einstein condensates
(by Martin Wilding)
(incl. assignments on Martin Wilding's sections)
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Phase transitions
- Order of phase transitions
- Order parameters and symetry
- A hint of Landau theory
- Tracking transitions experimentally
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 three on one of four experiments of your choice.
Further reading
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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]
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Richard Tilley's Understanding Solids is another general book on the topic and includes a large number of self
test exercises with solutions.
[Primo]
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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]
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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]
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