Code
Φ-442
Level
Undergraduate
Category
B
Teacher
E. N. Economou
ECTS
6
Hours
4
Semester
Spring
Display
Yes
Offered
Yes
Teacher Webpage
Goal of the course
The course addresses advanced undergraduate students that aim to understand basic concepts of condensed matter physics starting from the principles of quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics. It presents the electronic and phononic states of crystalline solids. This is followed by a brief introduction to second quantization that leads to the description of elementary excitations with the quasi-particle concept and permits the systematic analysis of simple models of condensed matter physics such as the homogeneous electron gas, the BCS model for superconductivity, and the Heisenberg model for magnetism.
Program
Tuesday, 12:00-14:00, Room 4
Friday 11:00-13:00, Room 4
Friday 11:00-13:00, Room 4
Syllabus
Direct and reciprocal lattice, primitive cell and first Brillouin zone.
Electronic states in a periodic potential, Bloch's theorem, periodic boundary conditions, Fermi surface, density of states. Electrons in a weak periodic potential. The tight-binding method, linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO). Phonons. Brief introduction to second quantization. Statistical mechanics of electrons and phonons. Homogeneous electron gas and the Hartree-Fock method. The screening effect. Superconductivity and the BCS theory.
Diamagnetism and paramagnetism. Magnetic ordering and spin waves, the Heisenbergferro- and antiferromagnet.
Electronic states in a periodic potential, Bloch's theorem, periodic boundary conditions, Fermi surface, density of states. Electrons in a weak periodic potential. The tight-binding method, linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO). Phonons. Brief introduction to second quantization. Statistical mechanics of electrons and phonons. Homogeneous electron gas and the Hartree-Fock method. The screening effect. Superconductivity and the BCS theory.
Diamagnetism and paramagnetism. Magnetic ordering and spin waves, the Heisenbergferro- and antiferromagnet.
Bibliography
1. "Solid State Physics" -- N. W. Ashcroft and N. D. Mermin (Holt-Saunders, New York, 1976).
2. "Quantum Many-Particle Systems" -- G. C. Psaltakis (Crete University Press, Heraklion, 2008).
3. "Solid State Physics", Vol. II -- E. N. Economou (Crete University Press, Heraklion, 2003).
2. "Quantum Many-Particle Systems" -- G. C. Psaltakis (Crete University Press, Heraklion, 2008).
3. "Solid State Physics", Vol. II -- E. N. Economou (Crete University Press, Heraklion, 2003).
