PHY2101 SOLID STATE PHYSICS I

This course is offered to Second Year Physics Majors and 3rd Year Physics Minors. The main objective of this course is to provide the students with adequate knowledge of Solid State Physics. The course covers major topics such as: Elementary description of crystal structures; diffraction of X-rays by crystals; lattice vibrations; thermal and dielectric properties of solids. It has a laboratory component that enables easy understanding of the theoretical concept through practical exposure.

Course Objectives
At the end of the course students should be able to

• Describe the different crystal structures
• Use Bragg’s law to index powder diffraction lines
• Derive the dispersion relations for linear monoatomic and diatomic lattice vibrations
• Explain Einstein’s and Debye’s models of lattice heat capacity    
• Explain thermal and dielectric properties of solids
• Perform experiments linking the theory to practical concepts

Expected Learning Outcomes
On completion, successful students will be able to

• Distinguish between crystalline and amorphous solids
• Explain the different types of crystal lattices and crystal planes
• Calculate the miller indices and density of different types of crystals 
• Derive Bragg’s law and calculate interatomic spacing
• Determine the different types of modes of lattice vibration.
• State the thermal and dielectric properties of solids.