Solid State Physics

Enroled in 3rd. year

Crystal Structure: Translational symmetry. Bravais and reciprocal lattice. Unit cell and Primitive unit cell. Examples of crystal structures. Diffraction on crystals. Structure factor.
Electrons in solids: Metals and free electron model. Specific heat of metals. Drude theory of metals. Electron in periodic potential, Bloch functions. Electron bands in the weak periodic potential and in the Tight-binding model. Density of electron states. Semiclassical model of electron dynamics, effective electron mass. Metals and insulators. Chemical bond in solids.
Semiconductors: Undoped semiconductors. electrons and holes. Donor and acceptor levels. Inhomogeneous semiconductors. p-n junction. Depletion layer. Diode and other semiconductor circuit elements. Metal-semiconductor junction.
Lattice oscillations: Classical oscillations of the crystal lattice. quantization of oscillations - phonons. Lattice specific heat. Anharmonic effects.

Electric properties of insulators, dielectric constant and lattice vibrations of ionic crystals

Electron – lattice coupling, Holstein model

C. Kittel, Introduction to Solid State Physics, John Wiley, 2005.
N. W. Ashcroft, N. D. Mermin, Solid State Physics, Holt, Rinehart and    Winston, 1976.
J. R. Hook, H.E. Hall: Solid State Physics, John Wiley, 1991.

Basic understanding of symmetry, electronic and thermodynamic properties of solid state systems and their technological applications.

Knowledge and understanding
Understanding of crystal structure, electronic and vibrational properties of solid state systems. Basic properties of metals, insulators and semiconductors. Semiconducting elements for the use in electronic devices.

Application
The curriculum offers basic understanding of solid state systems. It represents the foundation for further study of solid state systems and their application in electronic devices and modern technologies.

Reflection
The use of theoretical fundamentals of symmetry groups, quantum mechanics and statistical physics for application in solid state systems.

Transferable knowledge
Enable transition from theoretical physical subjects towards the understanding of basic properties of solid state matter and their technological applications.

Lectures, problem solving excersises, homework problems, consultations.

Written exam. Exam in problem solving can replace the written exam.
Oral exam
grading: 5 (fail), 6-10 (pass) (according to the Statute of UL)

Janez Bonča:

1. KOVAČ, Klemen, GOLEŽ, Denis, MIERZEJEWSKI, Marcin, BONČA, Janez. Optical manipulation of bipolarons in a system with nonlinear electron-phonon coupling. Physical review letters online. [Online ed.]. 2024, vol. 132, art. 106001, 6 str. ISSN 1079-7114. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.106001.

2. KRAJEWSKI, Bartosz, VIDMAR, Lev, BONČA, Janez, MIERZEJEWSKI, Marcin. Restoring ergodicity in a strongly disordered interacting chain. Physical review letters. [Print ed.]. 2022, vol. 129, iss. 26, str. 260601-1-260601-7, ilustr. ISSN 0031-9007. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.260601.

3. MIERZEJEWSKI, Marcin, PRELOVŠEK, Peter, BONČA, Janez. Einstein relation for a driven disordered quantum chain in the subdiffusive regime. Physical review letters . [Print ed.]. 2019, vol. 122, iss. 20, str. 206601-1-206601-7, DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.206601 .

4. LEMUT, Gal, MIERZEJEWSKI, Marcin, BONČA, Janez. Complete many-body localization in the t-J model caused by a random magnetic field. Physical review letters . [Print ed.]. 2017, vol. 119, iss. 24, str. 246601-1-246601-6, DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.246601 .

5. KOGOJ, Jan, MIERZEJEWSKI, Marcin, BONČA, Janez. Nature of bosonic excitations revealed by high-energy charge carriers. Physical review letters . [Print ed.]. 2016, vol. 117, iss. 22, str. 227002-1-227002-5, DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.227002 .

6. DAL CONTE, S., VIDMAR, Lev, GOLEŽ, Denis, BONČA, Janez, et al. Snapshots of the retarded interaction of charge carriers with ultrafast fluctuations in cuprates. Nature physics . 2015, vol. 11, no. 5, str. 421-426, http://www.nature.com/nphys/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nphys3265.html , DOI: 10.1038/nphys3265 .