PES 446 / PHYS 546 Solid State Physics

instructor:  Dr. Tom Christensen	       			
office: Engr 210     	                       
phone: 262-3130    						
email: tchriste@mail.uccs.edu
	
This syllabus and course information and assignments will be posted on the
physics department web page at:  http://www.uccs.edu/~physics.  Look under
"Course Information".                       
 
TEXT:    
  	
	"Introduction to Solid State Physics"
	Charles Kittel, 7th ed., 1996

optional text for graduate students (PHYS 546): 
 	"Solid State Physics"
         N.W. Ashcroft and N.D. Mermin

 Other books on 4 hr/overnight reserve at the library:

	"Elementary Solid State Physics",  M. Ali Omar,   QC176.038
	  this book is comparable in level to Kittel

	"Solid State Physics",  J. S. Blakemore,   QC176.B63 1985
	  this book is somewhat simpler than Kittel

Problem Set and Exam solutions will be placed on reserve after 
they are graded.

See Problem Set assignments

 GRADING:  
 
	     Problem Sets (8-10 sets)				30 %
	    (lowest problem set will be disregarded) 
	    Mid-term Exam I  (Feb. 24 ??)			15
	    Mid-term Exam II  (March 12 ??)			15
	    Mid-term Exam III  (April 23 ??)			15
	    Final Exam (comprehensive  - May 14)		25

Students in the graduate class may have additional problems on the 
problem sets and exams which will require somewhat greater mathematical 
sophistication.

Homework: Due approximately every week. Solutions to the homework 
will be available on reserve in the library the afternoon after the 
problems have been turned in. As a result I can not accept late homework. 
Hand in whatever you have done !  Homework problems are a very important 
part of the course.  The only way to learn physics is to work with it as 
much as possible.

COURSE OUTLINE:

This semester will cover Chapters 1-8 in Kittel. 

	  I. Structure of Crystals   
	      a. classification of lattices (Ch. 1)
	      b. reciprocal lattices (Ch. 2)
	      c. bonding in crystals (Ch. 3)

	 II. Vibrations and Waves in Crystals - Phonons   (Ch. 4-5)

	III. Electrons in Crystals 
	      a. free electrons in metals  (Ch. 6)
	      b. electrons in periodic potentials (Ch. 7)
	      c. semiconductors (Ch. 8)

	IV.  Special topics (if time) :  
	     Surface and Interface Physics (Ch. 19)