Physics 472 is an introductory course on Solid State Physics. The emphasis is on the basic properties of metals, semiconductors and insulators.  Lattice vibrations and electronic band structure will be discussed in detail. We will also cover selected topics like p-n junctions, semiconductor devices, magnetism and superconductivity. The course is intended for students who have taken Modern Physics (PHY 251 or equivalent) and have a knowledge of Quantum Mechanics and Thermal / Statistical Physics.  Calculus will be used extensively.

1. Course Organization

The course consists of two lectures each week. The lectures are mainly devoted to the presentation of the material covered in the syllabus of the course, but the homework exercises and problems will also be discussed. There will be two midterm exams and a final exam.

The instructor is Prof. László Mihály (office: B-146; phone: 2-8178; email: laszlo.mihaly@sunysb.edu).  The textbook is "Introduction to Solid State Physics" by Kittel (John Wiley & Sons, 7th edition, 1996).  A copy of the book is placed on reserve in the Math/Physics Library. Recommended, but not required is "Solid State Physics: Problems and Solutions" by Mihály and Martin (John Wiley & Sons, 1996).

2. Homework

Students are supposed to read ahead of time the material covered in the lectures.  There will be about ten homework assignments distributed throughout the semester. Each assignment will typically consist of a few problems from the textbook, due on the Tuesday lecture one week after it has been distributed in class. Homework handed in late will be penalized with a reduction of the assignment grade. Homework overdue more than a week will not be accepted.

3. Exams

There will be two midterm exams on Oct 15. and Nov. 19.  The final exam will cover all the material discussed in the course, and it is scheduled by the University. All exams are "closed book", but an 8 ½ x 5 ½ formula sheet (two sided), handwritten by the student, will be allowed.

4. Grades

The final grade will be determined from the various portions of the course with this relative weight:

Homework: 20 %

If a student misses an exam, he/she will receive a zero in that test unless absence is due to medical reasons, which must be justified by a written note from the medical doctor attending the student.  In this case,  a make-up test will be offered.

5. Disabilities

If a student has a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact on his/her ability to carry out assigned course work, he/she is urged to contact the staff in the Disabled Student Services office (DSS), Room 133 Humanities, 632-6748/TDD. DSS will review his/her concerns and determine, with him/her, what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation of disability is confidential.

6. Syllabus

Date	Chapter, Topic	Except (in reference to book pages)
Sept. 3,5	1. Crystal structure	Indexing crystal planes (pp. 13-15)
Sept. 10,12	2. Reciprocal lattice
Sept. 19	3 Crystal binding	Elastic strain (pp. 80-90)
Sept. 24,26	4,5. Phonons	Thermal expansion, conductivity pp. 131-138
Oct. 1,3	6. Free electrons
Oct. 8,10	7. Energy bands
Oct. 15	Midterm I : Chapters 1-7 of the book
Oct. 17	8. Semiconductors	Thermolelctric effects (pp. 227-231)
Oct. 22,24	9. Fermi surfaces, metals	Wigner-Seitz, pseudopotential methods p. 248-p255
Oct. 29,31	10. Plasmons	Polaritons pp. 287-293, Electron-Phonon interaction, Peierls instability pp. 297-301)
Nov. 5,7	11. Optical excitations	Excitons, Raman, Energy loss pp. 312-329
Nov. 12,14	12. Superconductivity
Nov. 19	12. Superconductivity	Type II superconductors pp. 360-364, Josephson effect pp. 366-374
Nov. 21	Midterm II : Chapters 8-13 of the book
Nov. 26	Review
Dec. 3,5	13. Dielectrics, ferroelectrics	Antiferroelectricity pp. 404-410
Dec. 10,12	14. Diamagnetism and paramagnetism	pp. 426-433