- Course Code
- PX 4009
- Credit Points
- 15
- Course Coordinator
- Dr J M S Skakle
Pre-requisites
Overview
This course will develop the students’ knowledge of quantum Mechanics and Statistical Physics as it is applied to the thermal and electrical properties of solids. The statistical foundations will be based on the Boltzmann and Gibbs distributions and their associated partition functions.
The applications of statistical mechanics to solids will be selected from: defects, magnetism (magnetisation, phase transitions, magnetic cooling and thermometry), fermion systems (conduction electrons and semiconductor junctions), boson systems (phonons, superconductivity, superfluidity)
Due emphasis will be placed on semiconductors and semiconductor devices and on modern developments in solid state physics.
Structure
12 week course - Three-hours per week including a total of 8 hours devoted to tutorials.
Assessment
1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (75%) and in-course assessment (25%).