PH3702: Condensed Matter I
Module Provider: |
Physics |
Number of credits: |
10 [5 ECTS credits] |
Level: |
H |
Terms in which taught: |
Autumn |
Module Convenor: |
Prof
AC
Wright |
Pre-requisites: |
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Co-requisites: |
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Modules excluded: |
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Current from: |
2003 |
Aims:
The aim of this unit is to provide an introduction to the physics of condensed matter and, in particular, of crystalline solids. |
Assessable learning outcomes:
An introduction is given to the structure and properties of modern materials (condensed matter), which includes the following topics:
Introduction: Basic definitions; the states of matter; polymorphism; brief survey of the properties of metals, semiconductors and insulators; effect of impurities.
Cohesion and Bonding: Electronic configurations of atoms and the periodic table; types of bonding; interatomic potentials; 8-N rule; relationship between bonding and properties; electron bands and conduction in metals, semiconductors and insulators.
Molecules: Molecular structure; bond lengths and angles; simple symmetry (rotation axes, mirror planes and centre of symmetry).
Basic Crystallography: Periodicity and the unit cell; crystal systems and related symmetry; fractional atomic co-ordinates; Bravais lattices; directions and planes; Miller indices; Weiss zone law; angles between directions/planes in cubic materials.
Van der Waals and Metallic Systems: Spherical atom approximation; crystal structures (hcp, fcc, bcc and simple cubic); number of atoms in the unit cell; co-ordination number; packing density; point, line and interfacial defects and their effect on properties; alloys.
Diffraction by Polycrystalline materials: Bragg's law; X-ray diffraction by a polycrystalline sample; peak positions for a cubic material; systematic absences; phase identification; nanocrystalline materials.
Reciprocal Lattice: Definition; reciprocal lattice vectors; Ewald construction.
Ionic and Ceramic Systems: Simple crystal structures (e.g. NaCl, CsCl, ZnS, etc.); ionic size and radius ratio; Pauling's rules; lattice energy and the Madelung constant; defects.
Covalent Systems: Structure of covalently bonded elements; crystal dimensionality; silicates.
Amorphous Materials and Glasses (Inorganic): Diffraction pattern for an amorphous material; random close packing model of simple (monatomic) liquids; radial distribution function; covalent liquids and glass formation; types of amorphous solid; random network theory; amorphous semiconductors; metallic glasses; crystallisation and glass ceramics; computer simulation.
Quasicrystals: Atomic clusters; five-fold and icosahedral symmetry; Buckminsterfullerenes; order without periodicity; Penrose tiling; diffraction pattern; where are the atoms?
Neutron Diffraction/Scattering: Nuclear reactor source; neutron energy and wavelength; neutron scattering amplitude; location of light atoms; atoms of neighbouring atomic number; magnetic scattering.
Thermal Properties: Dulong and Petit law; Einstein Model; linear monatomic and diatomic lattices; sound wave limit; phonons; vibrational density of states; Debye model; inelastic neutron scattering; thermal expansion. |
Additional outcomes:
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Outline content:
After the unit each student should be able to:
Define the interatomic potential and explain how the various types of bonding arise;
Explain the difference between a metal, an insulator and a semiconductor in terms of simple band theory;
Identify the symmetry elements present in a simple molecule;
Define the crystalline lattice and describe the origin of the origin of the various crystal systems and Bravaais lattices;
Label crystal directions and planes;
Describe the three main structures for elements with Van der Waals and metallic bonding and calculate their packing densities;
Use ideas of hole filling to derive simple ionic crystal structures such as NaCl, ZnS, etc;
Describe the various defects present for elements with Van der Waals and metallic bonding and for simple ionic materials;
Derive Bragg's Law, describe a simple X-ray diffractometer for powdered samples and identify the various cubic elemental structures from systematic absences;
Define the reciprocal lattice and describe the Ewald construction;
Describe the structures of covalently-bonded elements;
Define the radial distribution function and interpret peak positions and areas;
Describe the structures of amorphous and quasi-crystalline solids;
Describe a simple neutron powder diffractometer and identify the special features of neutron diffraction;
Explain the Dulong and Petit law and derive an expression for the specific heat according to the Einstein model;
Derive the dispersion relation and density of vibrational states for monatomic and diatomic linear lattices;
Discuss the Debye model for specific heat;
Describe how dispersion relations can be determined by inelastic neutron scattering;
Describe the origin of thermal expansion. |
Brief description of teaching
and learning methods:
Lectures, directed reading and problem solving. |
Contact hours:
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Assessment:
Continuous assessment:
Assessed workshop problems: 20%
End-of-Term Test: 20%
Examinations:
Formal University Examination: 60%
(1½ hour, June)
Requirement for pass:
An average of at least 40%
Re-assessment: 1½-hour formal examination in June (following the conclusion of the degree course) |
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