Condensed Matter I

Module description

Learning aims & outcomes

To introduce the basic notions of condensed matter physics, encompassing the structural, thermal, electrical and magnetic properties of matter.

At the end of the module, students should be able to: 

• Describe the different types of bonding in solids and the impact it has on physical properties.
• Describe crystal structure using translation vectors, unit cells and reciprocal lattice vectors, with applications to X-ray crystallography.
• Characterise lattice vibrations and phonons including the Einstein and Debye models for specific heat capacity.
• Use simple ideas of band theory to distinguish between metals, insulators and semiconductors.
• Describe the key properties of semiconductors including notions of effective mass, mobility, doping, and direct and indirect gaps; have an idea about some of the semiconducting devices.
• Describe the different types of magnetism including Curie's law for paramagnetism, ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism; have an idea about Heisenberg Hamiltonian, physics behind domain walls and hysteresis.

Syllabus

An indicative list of topics covered by this module, but which may change slightly from year to year, is given by:

• Atoms, Madelung rules; Mendeleev’s periodic table.
• Adiabatic approximation. Types of chemical bonding: ionic, covalent, metallic, hydrogen, and van der Waals. LCAO method.
• Structure and types of condensed matter.
• Crystal structure, including Bravais lattices, Introduction to point and space groups. Crystal disorder: point defects, surfaces and dislocations; cellular disorder; ice.
• Reciprocal lattices, Brillouin zones, crystal planes, including Miller indices, and directions.
• X-ray and neutron diffraction. Bragg scattering, structure factor, scattering amplitude. Interpretation of power diffraction experiments for cubic crystals.
• Lattice vibrations and phonons (optical and acoustic) for 1D chains; cyclic boundary conditions; introduction to 3D systems’ vibrations; classical versus quantum descriptions; Einstein and Debye models for specific heat, density of states. Thermal expansion.
• Free electron theory of metals including the free electron Fermi surface and Fermi energy, Drude theory and the Wiedemann-Franz law; Fermi function; Electrons in periodic potentials including Bloch's theorem and the band theory classification of metals, insulators and semiconductors.
• Introduction to optics and origins of the colour of solid materials.
• Basic properties of semiconductors including electrons and holes, doping and effective mass, with applications to the p-n junction band structure engineering.
• Magnetism including paramagnetism, diamagnetism, ferromagnetism, antiferromagnetism, ferrimagnetism with reference to Curie’s Law and the Curie-Weiss law; A brief introduction to mean field theory, the exchange interaction and the Heisenberg model; Domains and hysteresis.

Assessment details

Details of the module's assessment/s

Type	Weighting	Marking Model
Quizzes	20%
Written Exam (May)	80%	Model 2 - Double Marking

Please note: - module assessment may be subject to change. If you have any questions, please contact ug-physics@kcl.ac.uk

Teaching pattern

Asynchronous recorded lectures (2 hours per week)

Synchronous flipped classroom (2 hours per week)

Module description disclaimer

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Please note that the module descriptions above are related to the current academic year and are subject to change.