Physics 576: Introduction to Solid State Physics

  • Homework Assignments
  • Extra office hours for the final
  • Instructor email:
  • Location: PB 208
  • Time: TTH 5:00-6:20pm
  • Office Hours: T 3:30-5pm, TH 2:30-3:30 or by appointment
  • Texts:
    • C. Kittel Introduction to Solids State physics
    • Ashcroft and Mermin Solid State physics
    • M. Marder Condensed Matter physics
    • Text notes: Either Kittel(K) or Ashcroft and Mermin(AM) are acceptable texts for this course. We will basically follow the chapter order and concepts in K, but some topics will be treated as in AM, and AM is a better reference book for graduate work. You will not need to look up HW problems in either text – I will write them out explicitly for each problem set. Marder is a nice complement to both texts.
  • More info: class flyer

Class Homework

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Extra Office hours for final

  • Friday 12/2 1:30-2:30 pm
  • Monday 12/5 12:30-2 pm
  • Tuesday 12/6 3:30-5 pm
  • Thursday 12/8 9:30-11am and 2:30-3:30 pm
  • Note: due to illness, Prof. Manning has rearranged these last few office hours
  • Monday 12/12 9:30-11am
  • Tuesday 12/13 11am-1:30 pm

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Class Syllabus

[pdf] version of Syllabus

Tentative Lecture Schedule:

Weeks

Topics

Reading

Exams

8/29-9/2

Intro, crystal structure

K1, AM4


9/5-9/9

Reciprocal lattice

K2, AM5


9/12-9/16

Reciprocal lattice, cohesion

K3-4, AM20, 22


9/19-9/23

Cohesion, phonons I

K4, AM22


9/26-9/30

Phonons I, II

K4-5, AM 23


10/3-10/7

Phonons II, dislocations

K5, AM23, and K21


10/10-10/14

Scattering, glasses

K19,


10/17-10/21

Midterm, Classical free electron gas

K6,AM1

10/18

10/24-10/28

Classical free electron gas/Fermi Dirac statistics

K6, AM 1,2


10/31-11/4

Fermi-Dirac free electron gas

K6, AM 2


11/7-11/11

Electrons in periodic potentials

K7, AM 8,10


11/14-11/18

(11/15 no class) Electrons in weak periodic potential

AM 9


11/21-11/25

Thanksgiving break, no classes


11/28-12/2

Interactions with external fields and Semiconductors

K8 and 9, AM12, and K8, AM28


12/5-12/9

Semiconductors

K8, AM28


12/13 (Tues)

Final


12/13

5:15-7:15pm

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Homework: Weekly problem sets will be assigned, generally on Tuesday, and will be collected for grading. Homework assignments will be announced in class and posted on the class website. No late homework will be accepted, and one lowest homework grade will be dropped.

Exams: There will be one midterm on 10/18, and a final exam on 12/13 from 5:15pm-7:15pm.

Evaluation:

  • Homework: 20 %
  • Midterm: 40 %
  • Final: 40 %

No makeup midterm will be given. If you are absent from the midterm with a valid reason, your midterm score will be the same as the score on your final. In addition, if you have above an 80% average on homework, then your final grade will not be lower than your score on the final exam. You must take the final exam to pass the class.

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Disability-Related Accommodations: If you believe that you need accommodations for a disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services(ODS), http://disabilityservices.syr.edu, located in Room 309 of 804 University Avenue, or call (315) 443-4498 for an appointment to discuss your needs and the process for requesting accommodations. ODS is responsible for coordinating disability-related accommodations and will issue students with documented disabilities Accommodation Authorization Letters, as appropriate. Since accommodations may require early planning and generally are not provided retroactively, please contact ODS as soon as possible.

Academic Integrity Policy: The Syracuse University Academic Integrity Policy holds students accountable for the integrity of the work they submit. Students should be familiar with the Policy and know that it is their responsibility to learn about instructor and general academic expectations with regard to proper citation of sources in written work. The policy also governs the integrity of work submitted in exams and assignments as well as the veracity of signatures on attendance sheets and other verifications of participation in class activities. Serious sanctions can result from academic dishonesty of any sort.
 For more information and the complete policy, see the Academic Integrity Policy.

Religious observances policy: SU's religious observances policy, found at http://supolicies.syr.edu/emp_ben/ religious_observance.htm, recognizes the diversity of faiths represented among the campus community and protects the rights of students, faculty, and staff to observe religious holy days according to their tradition. Under the policy, students are provided an opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work requirements that may be missed due to a religious observance provided they notify their instructors before the end of the second week of classes. For fall and spring semesters, an online notification process is available through MySlice/Student Services/Enrollment/MyReligious Observances from the first day of class until the end of the second week of class. 

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Extras