OVERVIEW

This Master Course focuses on electronic properties in crystals. The main idea is to give the basis in order to understand the electronic quantum theory of solids.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course aims to provide the basis of the physics of solids, with particular attention to electronic properties. The main objective is to explain the dynamics of electrons in solids with particular emphasis on semiconductors. The main magnetic properties of solids will also be explained, including ferromagnetism. Finally, the theoretical background on superconductors and their transport properties will be provided.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The educational objective of this course is to explain the dynamics of electrons in solids with particular emphasis on semiconductors, magnetic materials and superconductors.  At the end of the course the student will acquire the skills necessary to understand the properties of electrons in solids. In particular, they will have the appropriated basis for understanding the behavior of semiconductors, magnetism and superconductivity.

TEACHING METHODS

The course is at the blackboard with also the possibility to see slides especially connected to  experiments.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Electronic bands in crystals

• Bravais lattices and reciprocal lattice. Dynamical scales in solids.
• Bloch theorem: energy bands. Tight binding model.
• Band occupation: metals and insulators. Examples (3D systems, graphene).

Dynamics and transport properties  

• Semiclassical motion: Bloch package, group velocity and effective mass.
• Dynamics in the presence of external fields. Scattering processes and electrical conductivity.

Semiconductors

• Direct or indirect gap semiconductors, interband optical transitions.
• Carrier statistics at thermodynamic equilibrium.
• Mass action law and carrier concentration for undoped semiconductors.
• Doping in semiconductors, hydrogenoid model, carrier concentrations.
• Transport properties: drift and diffusion current, recombination and generation processes.
• Technological applications: pn junction, heterojunctions, LEDs.

Magnetism

• Introduction to magnetic properties.
• Magnetic behaviors of single atoms: diamagnetic and paramagnetic terms.
• Magnetic susceptibility of paramagnetic atoms, Curie's law.
• Ferromagnetism: phenomenological model, exchange interaction, Heisenberg Hamiltonian.
• Mean field approach and identification of the Weiss effective field.

Superconductivity

• Phenomenological aspects: electrical, thermodynamic and magnetic properties.
• Meissner effect and London's phenomenological model.
• Origin of the attractive interaction between electrons, Cooper pair and  bond energy.
• Ginzburg Landau's phenomenological theory for the description of the transition to the superconducting phase. 
• BCS microscopic theory: condensate of pairs, ground state and excitations.
• Tunneling processes in superconductors, Josephson effect.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

*G. Grosso and G. Pastori-Parravicini "Solid State Physics", Academic Press (2014).

* H.Ibach and H Luth "Solid-State Physics, IV Edition, Springer (2009).

*  N. Ashcroft and N. Mermin "Solid State Physics, Saunders College Publishing (1976).

* C. Kittel "Introduzione alla Fisica dello Stato Solido", Casa Editrice Ambrosiana (2008).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MAURA SASSETTI (President)

DARIO FERRARO

FABIO CAVALIERE (President Substitute)

LESSONS

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written and oral exam will be present.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

During the period of lectures there are guided excercises in order to verify the status of knowledge of the students. The written exam presents three problems each with several questions related to the programme. The difficulty of the questions is graduated in order to verify the status of the preparation of the students.

The oral part is done by the teacher responsible of the course and another expert in the field, usually a teacher of the staff. The duration of the oral proof is about 30 minutes.

The final mark correspond to an average between the written and oral exams.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sergio Di Domizio (sergio.didomizio@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.