Key facts
Details for course being taught in current academic year
Level 3 - 15 credits - spring term
E-learning links
Resources
Course description
Course outline
Electronic Energy bands in Solids
1. Electrons in periodic potentials; Brillouin Zones; Bloch states. 2. Nearly Free Electron (NFE) model. 3. Tight-Binding Approximation (TBA) model. 4. Band structure of selected metals, insulators and semiconductors. 5. Optical Properties.
Electron Dynamics
6. Electrons and holes. 7. Effective Mass. 8. Mobilities. 9. Magneto-transport.
Semiconductors
10. Classification; Energy Gaps. 11. Donor and Acceptor doping. 12. Equilibrium carrier statistics in intrinsic and doped materials. 13. Temperature dependence of electrical and optical properties.
Semiconductor Devices
14. p-n junctions. 15. Diodes, LEDs, Lasers, Transistors. 16. Superlattices and 2DEG devices.
Lattice Defects
17. Types of defects. 18. Electronic and optical effects of defects in semiconductors and insulators.
Pre-requisite
Condensed State Physics 1, or equivalent.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course successful students will be able to :
Describe the electronic and optical properties of solids in terms of their band structure
Demonstrate an understanding of the behaviour of semiconducting materials and how this is used in devices.
Describe the role of defects on various electronic and optical properties of solids.
Library
Course Texts:
Blakemore - “Solid State Physics” (Macmillan)Hook and Hall - “Solid State Physics” 2nd Edition (Wiley)
Supplementary Texts (Equivalent Level):
Elliott - “The Physics and Chemistry of Solids” (Wiley)Kittel - “Introduction to Solid State Physics” 8th edition 2005 (Wiley) Ibach and Luth - “Solid State Physics” (Springer)
Supplementary Text (Higher Level):
Ashcroft and Mermin - “Solid State Physics” (Holt Saunders).
Supplementary Text (Background and First Aid):
Tipler - “Physics” 4th edition (Freeman) or equivalent Year 1 Text.
Assessments
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 30.00% | |
| Problem Sets | Spring Week 2 | 6.25% |
| Problem Sets | Spring Week 3 | 6.25% |
| Problem Sets | Spring Week 4 | 6.25% |
| Problem Sets | Spring Week 5 | 6.25% |
| Problem Sets | Spring Week 6 | 6.25% |
| Problem Sets | Spring Week 7 | 6.25% |
| Problem Sets | Spring Week 8 | 6.25% |
| Test | Spring Week 9 | 50.00% |
| Problem Sets | Spring Week 10 | 6.25% |
| Unseen Examination | Summer Term (1 hour 30 minutes) | 70.00% |
Resit mode of assessment
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Unseen Examination | Summer Vacation (1 hour 30 minutes) | 100.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
Teaching methods
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Term | LECTURE | 1 hour | 2222222222 |
| Spring Term | WORKSHOP | 1 hour | 1111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Contact details
Dr Michael Hardiman
Assess convenor, Convenor
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/physics/profile1145.html