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Cursus: SK-BVAOP
SK-BVAOP
Vaste stoffen en oppervlakken
Cursus informatie
CursuscodeSK-BVAOP
Studiepunten (EC)7,5
Cursusdoelen
  • The student should aim to master the language and concepts of solid-state physics, understand and use basic physical models, and have an eye for the huge impact of solid-state physics on our current society.
  • It is required that the students can reproduce the presented content (equations are provided in the examination), and use it to solve basic questions, such as the ones trained in the working classes.
  • This will be sufficient to understand the remarkable electronic properties of metals, insulators, semiconductors and the new electronic materials that are required for the coming quantum age. These materials have and will have an enormous impact on the energy transition and the realization of a sustainable information society.
Inhoud

This course deals with a physical understanding of the electronic properties of solids.
Part I presents an elementary explanation of the band theory for three-dimensional crystals, with the distinction between metals, insulators and semiconductors. The models are simple and based on the free electron model with planar waves, and nearly free electrons represented by Bloch-type wavefunctions. We will discuss:

  • Free electron Fermi gas: properties of metals, the model of planar waves with periodic boundary conditions, Fermi-Dirac statistics, specific heat, electronic conduction, the Hall effect.
  • Electronic band theory: macroscopic distinction between insulators and metals, an intuitive model based on Bragg scattering of planar waves, the LCAO theory, solution of the Schrödinger equation with planar waves, Bloch-type wave functions, filling of the bands with electrons.
  • Semiconductors: properties and societal impact, optical transitions, electrons and holes, response of electrons and holes to external fields: group velocity and effective mass, variation of the electron and hole concentration in semiconductors.
Part 2 presents how electrons behave when confined into two dimensions, with electrons in surfaces, graphene and topological insulators as examples. Part 2 also introduces tight-binding models. We will discuss:
  • Geometric structure of surfaces and materials in real and reciprocal space (Bravais lattices, Quasicrystals, Miller indices, diffraction, workfunction).
  • Electronic structure of 2D (and 3D) materials based on tight-binding.
  • Graphene and topological insulators.
The course builds on the leerlijnen “Fysische Chemie” and “Quantum Chemie en Anorganische Chemie”. We recommend first to follow the course Anorganische en Vastestofchemie (SK-BANV13) before this course. Subsequently, the course Advanced Density Functional Theory (SK-BTDFT) (coordinator: Zeila Zanolli) can be seen as an appropriate follow-up of the present course.  
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