To familiarize the students with the basics of condensed matter physics which form the basic for further studies in condensed matter physics. The students get acquainted with the crystal structure, properties of solids, superconductivity and magnetism which strengthens the theoretical base for research in contemporary fields of condensed matter physics like imperfect solids and nano particle physics.
Symmetry elements in crystal, Unit cell, Wigner Seitz cell, fundamental lattice system and types, Miller indices, crystal structures of simple cubic, FCC, BCC, HCP, diamond.
Crystal Diffraction: Bragg’s law, X-ray and neutron diffraction, Rotating crystal method, laue Method and Powder method.
Concepts of thermal energy and Phonons, Einstein theory of specific heat, Debye model of lattice specific heat.
Band theory of solids: Formation of bands, distinction between metals, insulators and semiconductors, periodic potential of a solid, wave function in a periodic lattice and Bloch theorem, Physical origin of effective mass,negative effective mass and holes.
Drude Lorentz theory of electrical conductivity. Sommerfield theory of conduction in metals, Mathiessen’s Rule, Thermal conductivity and Wiedemann – Franz law, The Hall effect.
Superconductivity: Zero resistivity, Critical temperature, critical magnetic field, Meissner effect, Type I and type II superconductors, BCS theory (Basic idea),High Tc superconductors.
Classification of magnetic material, Diamagnetism, Paramagnetism due to free ions and conduction electrons, Curie’s law, ferromagnetism
Nature and Origin of Weiss molecular field. Domains, hysterisis loop, outline of antiferromagnetism and ferrimagnetisms, ferrites.
Light emitting diode (LED) and its application, Solar cell, SCR.
Operational amplifier: Differential amplifiers, differential gain and CMRR, inverting and non-inverting configurations Applications of op-amp: adder, subtractor, differentiator and integrator.
Field affect Transistor (FET): Classification of various types of FET, constructional details of FET, drain characteristics and baising of FET, operating regions, pinch-off voltage, idea of metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET).