615.757.81 - Solid State Physics

Expanded Course Description

This course is intended to be a rigorous graduate course introducing the field of solid state physics. Students should have had undergraduate or graduate electromagnetism and if at all possible, have taken quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics. This course provides the student with an in depth understanding of key the properties of the third state of matter, i.e. solids. The course provides an initial review of the early understanding of thermal and electrical properties of the free electron gas and its ability and also failures to explain some key experimental observations. Beyond these introductory modules the course provides detail analytical descriptions of thermal, electrical, optical and magnetic properties of solids derived from periodic electronic and atomic structures. The course concludes with examples of quasi-solids, i.e. glasses and polymers and also looking at 1D and 2D material structures. The course typically alternates theoretical descriptions with examples of modern solid-state applications.

A background in Quantum Mechanics is very beneficial for this course, students having taken Quantum-Mechanics and Statistical and thermal Physics will benefit from this course intended to be a first semester graduate course in condensed matter and materials physics.

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into modules. The modules can be accessed by clicking Course Modules on the left menu. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. Students will be presented with two types of assignments, a) weekly homework due after 14 day 14 days after the module is released and b) Final assignment due at the end of the semester long course. Students are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. Most modules run for a period of seven (7) days, exceptions are noted on the Course Outline page. In particular, one of the module runs through the entire semester, i.e., the review paper. Students should regularly check the Calendar and Announcements for assignment due dates.

Course Topics

• Solid properties derived from the qualitative free electron model
• Modified properties of electrons in a solid represented as a periodic potential
  • Electronic bands
  • Solid classes: Conductors, Semiconductors and Isolators
  • Bulk and surface Plasmons
• Impact of atom vibrations
  • Existence of acoustic and optical phonons
  • Polaritons and Polarons
  • Phonon Spectroscopy: Brillouin and neutron Scattering, Nonlinear Optical Raman and Brillouin spectroscopic techniques
• Optical properties of solids
  • Optical Susceptibility 
  • Ferroelectrics
• Magnetic Properties of Solids
  • Diamagnetic and paramagnetic susceptibility, Curie temperature
  • Ferromagnetic and Antiferromagnetic order, Neel temperature
• Origin of Superconductivity
• Low dimensional solids
  • 2D, 1D and 0D Quantum wells
• Quasi-Solids
  • Liquid crystals

Course Goals

The principal goal of this class is to familiarize the student with solid state physics concepts derived from key developments in this field over the last century, e.g. electrical properties of semiconductors, optical properties of dielectrics and magnetic properties of ferro and ferri magnetic structures. A secondary goal of the class is for students to interact with all members of the class and not just the instructor. Homework and discussions assignments are distributed on a bi-weekly basis to facilitate the interaction between students and a semester long individual review paper also assigned to improve the student ability to communicate his understanding of a new area of condensed matter physics to a broad community.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Apply the properties of modern solid-state materials such as semiconductors and metals to understand the impact of both quantum and statistical mechanics in the understanding of their properties.
• Derive the properties resulting from the coupling of the atomic lattice with the electronic structure of a solid such as the thermal, electrical, and optical properties of modern solid-state materials.
• Characterize electrical, optical, and thermal properties of modern solid-state materials.
• Explain the origin of magnetic properties in solid materials such as ferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic as well as the difference between diamagnetic and paramagnetic materials.
• Evaluate the impact of disorder on the thermal, electrical, and optical properties of materials.
• Outline the electronic properties of reduced dimensionality materials as well as the properties of modern man-made solid-state materials.
• Write a scientific review paper and present it to your peers.

Textbooks

Ashcroft, N. W., & Mermin, N. D. (1976). Solid state physics. Cengage Learning. ISBN-10: ‎0030839939; ISBN-13: 978-003083993

Other Materials & Online Resources

You should refer to Help & Support on the course menu for a general listing of all the course technical requirements.

Required Software

Not required but you might want to access a recent version of MATLAB. A license is provided at no cost to you, through JHU.

Student Coursework Requirements

It is expected that each module will take approximately 9–12 hours per week to complete. Here is an approximate breakdown: reading the assigned sections of the texts (approximately 2–4 hours per week) as well as some outside reading, participating in the virtual life session and reviewing slide presentations (approximately 2-3 hours per week), and writing assignments (approximately 4–6 hours per week).

No material (i.e. Homework, discussions, project and final) will be graded 3 weeks after the due date communicated in the course site unless extenuating circumstances are communicated in writing with the instructor.

This course will consist of the following basic student requirements:

Homework assignments:  After each theoretical section problems sets will be assigned, due back to the instructor 2 weekends from the release of the homework set.  Seven problem sets will be assigned, each problem set will be assigned 5% or 8x5%=40% of the overall grade

Discussions:  Questions for Modules 1-13 will be provided by the instructor either as additional material with a question or as an exercise that can be solved by the class as a discussion. Participation and answers to questions will represent 13% of the total grade.

Project Review Paper:  Individual students will develop a review paper on a modern solid-state problem or technology. The review paper will provide an introduction to the field, a technical review of the project based on a bibliographic study. The quality of the scientific and technical writing as well as the understanding of the topic will be assessed. The review paper will represent 20% of the overall grade.

Project Presentation: An online, 15 minute long, focused presentation per project will be arranged via zoom during the last week of the semester with the instructor and, if possible, with the rest of the class.  The quality of the presentation will be assessed and will be graded over 10% of the overall grade.

Final exam:  A final take home exam will be provided several weeks before the end of the semester.  The final exam will typically consist of three or four problems, similar to those provided during the semester in the homework assignments.  The Final exam will be graded over 17% of the overall grade.

Grading Policy

Assignments are due according to the dates posted in your course site. You may check these due dates in the Course Calendar or the Assignments in the corresponding modules. Clarity in the presentation is expected. Poorly and unclear writings will result in decrease in the grade for the assignment, I will post grades one week after assignment due dates.

We generally do not directly grade spelling and grammar. However, egregious violations of the rules of the English language will be noted without comment. Consistently poor performance in either spelling or grammar is taken as an indication of poor written communication ability that may detract from your grade.

A grade of A indicates achievement of consistent excellence and distinction throughout the course—that is, conspicuous excellence in all aspects of assignments and discussion in every week.

A grade of B indicates work that meets all course requirements on a level appropriate for graduate academic work. These criteria apply to both undergraduates and graduate students taking the course.

EP uses a +/- grading system (see “Grading System”, Graduate Programs catalog, p. 10).

Final grades will be determined by the following weighting:

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.