Course Objectives:
Condensed Matter Physics is at the frontiers of cutting edge research like never before. The quest for new materials with desired properties and dimensions are opening the flood gates of curiosity, opportunities and new Physics. The Physicist working in this area are highly in demand in almost every field of science and engineering. Be it mobile communications or energy harvesting and storage from nonconventional sources, be it space technology or state of the art weaponry, there is no field which this branch of Physics has left untouched. A subject with such widespread outreach calls for a systematic and thorough study. Solid State Physics blends in itself the concepts from quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, electrodynamics, crystallography and statistical mechanics. This course is designed to fulfill the need of a self-contained intermediary course which prepares the students for self study of advanced courses and text books in the subject.
Course Outcomes:
After the completion of the course, students will be able to analyze:
i) x-ray diffraction data and will be able to find out the crystal structure
ii) the microscopic origin of the physical properties of matter.
iii) the interplay between superconductivity and magnetism.
iv) how to maximize the carrier concentration and current density in a semiconductor.
v) why different materials are suitable for different purposes.
- Teacher: Ganesh Adhikary