This is an introductory book on solid state physics. It is a translation of a Hebrew version, written for the Open University in Israel. Aimed mainly for self-study, the book contains appendices with the necessary background, explains each calculation in detail and contains many solved problems. The bulk of the book discusses the basic concepts of periodic crystals, including lattice structures, radiation scattering off crystals, crystal bonding, vibrations of crystals, and electronic properties. On the other hand, the book also presents brief reviews of advanced topics, e.g. quasicrystals, soft condensed matter, mesoscopic physics and the quantum Hall effect. There are also many specific examples drawn from modern research topics, e.g. perovskite oxides relevant for high temperature superconductivity, graphene, electrons in low dimensions and more.
Author(s): Amnon Aharony, Ora Entin-Wohlman
Publisher: World Scientific Publishing
Year: 2018
Language: English
Pages: 640
City: Singapore
Contents
Preface
1. Introduction
1.1 What is the nature of the solid state?
1.2 The spatial dimensions
1.3 The present book
2. The crystalline structure of solids
2.1 Lattices and crystals in one dimension
2.2 Two-dimensional lattices
2.3 Planar Bravais lattices with a base
2.4 The lattice vectors and the unit cell
2.5 The cubic lattices
2.6 Dense packing in space
2.7 Classification of periodic lattices according to their symmetries
2.8 Quasicrystals
2.9 Epitaxial growth, thin films, superlattices and multi-layered structures
2.10 Magnetiem
2.11 Answers for the problems in the text
2.12 Problems for self-evaluation
2.13 Answers for the self-evaluation problems
Appendix A The Platonic bodies
A.1 Answers
3. Radiation scattering o crystals
3.1 Introduction: identifying crystalline structures
3.2 Bragg's law
3.3 Scattering off a point-like Bravais lattice
3.4 The reciprocal lattice
3.5 Brillouin zones
3.6 The reciprocal lattice and lattice planes
3.7 Experimental methods
3.8 Fourier series and reciprocal lattice
3.9 The structure factor
3.10 The temperature dependence; the Debye-Waller factor
3.11 Scattering off quasicrystals
3.12 Scattering of electrons off surfaces
3.13 Neutron scattering off magnetic crystals
3.14 Answers for the problems in the text
3.15 Problems for self-evaluation
3.16 Answers for the self-evaluation problems
Appendix B Fourier series
B.1 Answers
4. Crystal bonding
4.1 Preface
4.2 The ionic bond
4.3 Thecovalent bond
4.4 Molecular crystals-van der Waals bond
4.5 The hydrogen bond
4.6 Metallic crystals
4.7 Magnetism
4.8 Answers for the problems in the text
4.9 Problems for self-evaluation
4.10 Answers for the self-evaluation problems
Appendix C Topics in quantum mechanics
C.1 Answer
5. Lattice vibrations
5.1 Classical equations of motion in one dimension
5.2 Classical equations of motion (arbitrary dimensions)
5.3 The eigenmodes of a finite lattice
5.4 Density of states, specific heat of phonons
5.5 Crystal stability and the Debye-Waller factor
5.6 Impurities, localized modes, scattering of sound waves
5.7 Lattice momentum and inelastic scattering of phonons
5.8 Phenomena related to anharmonic effects
5.9 Magnons
5.10 Answers for the problems in the text
5.11 Problems for self-evaluation
5.12 Answers for the self-evaluation problems
Appendix D The continuum limit
D.1 Answer
6. Electrons in solids
6.1 Preface
6.2 The Drude theory
6.3 The Sommerfeld theory
6.4 Electrons in a periodic potential: the Bloch theorem
6.5 The Kronig-Penney potential
6.6 Nearly-free electrons
6.7 The tight-binding approximation
6.8 Metals, insulators, and semiconductors
6.9 Density of states, charge-carriers' density, specific heat
6.10 The semiclassical equations of motion for electrons in a periodic potential
6.11 Electrons in a magnetic field
6.12 A metal or an insulator?
6.13 Answers for the problems in the text
6.14 Problems for self-evaluation
6.15 Answers for the self-evaluation problems
Appendix E The Schrodinger equation for electrons ina magnetic field
E.1 Answers
7. Selected topics
7.1 Preface
7.2 Soft condensed-matter
7.3 Mesoscopic physics
7.4 Answers for the problems in the text
7.5 Problems for self-evaluation
7.6 Answers for the self-evaluation problems
Index
