What is
Solid State
Physics??
Reminder of the Course Objective
• To expose students to the rich, broad, varied field of
SOLID STATE PHYSICS
• This ISN'T a semiconductor physics course!!
• A semiconductor course is
Physics 5335, Semiconductor Physics
Offered in the fall of even numbered years.
• Solid State Physics is about many different kinds of
solids. Semiconductors are a special category. We'll
discuss the microscopic physics of mostly, CRYSTALLINE
solids, including metals, insulators, & semiconductors.
• This course is complementary to, but it ISN'T a
replacement for Physics 5335!!
The Structure of Physics
Decreasing Size
Increasing Speed
Large Size >>
Atomic Size
Small Size < ~
Atomic Size
Low Speed
High Speed
v << c
Classical Mechanics
v<~c
Special Relativity
(Newton, Hamilton, Lagrange)
(Einstein)
Quantum Mechanics Relativistic Quantum
(Schrodinger, Heisenberg)
Mechanics (Dirac)
Atomic
Physics
Quantum Field
Quantum
Theory
Electrodynamics
Molecular
(Chemical)
Physics
Solid State
Physics
Nuclear &
Particle
Physics
(Gluons, Quarks,
Leptons, Strong
Nuclear Force)
Quantum
Chromodynamics
Feynman, Schwinger,
Gell-Mann (Photon)
(Weak Nuclear Force)
The Structure of Physics
Decreasing Size
Increasing Speed
Large Size >>
Atomic Size
Small Size < ~
Atomic Size
In this course,
our focus will
be here!
Low Speed
High Speed
v << c
Classical Mechanics
v<~c
Special Relativity
(Newton, Hamilton, Lagrange)
(Einstein)
Quantum Mechanics Relativistic Quantum
(Schrodinger, Heisenberg)
Mechanics (Dirac)
Atomic
Physics
Quantum Field
Quantum
Theory
Electrodynamics
Molecular
(Chemical)
Physics
Solid State
Physics
Nuclear &
Particle
Physics
(Gluons, Quarks,
Leptons, Strong
Nuclear Force)
Quantum
Chromodynamics
Feynman, Schwinger,
Gell-Mann (Photon)
(Weak Nuclear Force)
What is “Solid State Physics”?
• “Solid State Physics” can be ~ defined as the study of
the microscopic properties of the dense assembly of electrons
formed by placing atoms very close together in a solid.
– It is a very large, very broad physics sub-field.
• In some sense, Solid State Physics is “the opposite” of
Particle Physics. Particle Physics focuses on properties
of INDIVIDUAL particles.
– Particle physicists break composite objects up into constituent
building blocks.
• Solid State Physics deals with the microscopic
properties of large COLLECTIONS of particles.
– Solid State physicists are interested in what
fundamentally NEW PROPERTIES emerge when these
building blocks are grouped together in various ways.
Motivations for the Study of Solid State Physics
• Technological & Basic Physics motivations to
study Solid State Physics.
Technological Motivations
• A very important motivation is that the microscopic
properties Solid State Physics deals with are
responsible for the majority of modern technology.
– These properties determine the mechanical strength of
materials, how they interact with light, how they conduct
electricity, etc.
– So, Solid State Physics is important for technology,
because it gives guidance on the design of circuits needed
for modern electronic devices.
This field gave us the transistor & the
semiconductor chip!
Motivations for the Study of Solid State Physics
Technological Motivations
This field gave us the transistor & the
semiconductor chip!
• So, Solid State Physics is traditionally linked to
materials science, chemistry & engineering.
• Recently, it has developed overlaps with biology,
biochemistry, biotechnology & medicine.
• So, many current research questions in Solid
State Physics are still at the frontiers of applied
science & next-generation technologies.
Basic Physics Motivations
• A very important motivation to study Solid State
Physics is that the fundamental physics needed
to understand the microscopic properties of solids
is very interesting.
– To understand these properties, the ideas & methods of
quantum mechanics must be used. The physics of solids is
VERY deeply quantum mechanical.
– Solid State Physics has sometimes been called the best
“laboratory” for studying subtle quantum mechanical effects.
– This course may be a first chance for students to see
quantum mechanical ideas & methods applied to cases
where their technological consequences are so important.
• 2 examples (of MANY!) in which Solid State
Physics discoveries have revealed very
interesting, fundamental physics are the
observations/explanations of
1. Superconductivity
2. The Fractional Quantum Hall Effect
• Both have exotic quantum mechanical explanations.
• A very strong indicator that Solid State Physics has led
(& continues to lead!) to the understanding of many
very interesting basic physics phenomena is the fact that:
More than 40% of Physics Nobel Prizes in the
past 40 years & 50% of those in the past 10 years
have been for work in Solid State Physics!!!!
The Solid State Physics Research Area
• Many of you are likely taking this course because it
is related to your research area. If so, you've chosen
a very good, interesting field! LARGE quantities of
new physics is discovered in this area all of the time.
• For example, the American Physical Society's
(APS) Division of Condensed Matter Physics or
DCMP ("Condensed Matter" is ~ the same as “Solid
State”) is, BY FAR, the largest APS division!
~(1/3) of the ~ 60,000 APS members
belong to the DCMP.
Solid State Physics Research Area
• Another APS division is the Division of
Materials Physics or DMP (“Materials Physics” is
~ the same as “Applied Solid State”), which started
12-15 years ago. The DMP is rapidly growing &
may eventually become similar in size to the
DCMP. (Many people belong to both!).
• BY FAR, the largest annual APS meeting is the
joint DCMP & DMP meeting. It is held each
March (it's called the “March Meeting” !).
• 2015 March Meeting (San Antonio, TX):
~9,000+ people & ~7,000+ papers!
The APS
No matter what your research area is
Every Physics Graduate Student,
+ every undergrad who wants to go to
graduate school!
should join the APS!!
• The first year's membership is FREE to
students & the following student years are
highly discounted!
The MRS
Graduate students working in
Solid State, Condensed Matter, or Materials Physics
should also consider joining the
Materials Research Society (MRS)!
• The MRS is another large professional organization,
but it has a very interdisciplinary membership.
• This reflects the fact that people with many different
backgrounds are doing various kinds of materials
research. For example, it has members with
backgrounds in Physics, in Chemistry, & in various
types of Engineering.
Relationship of Solid State Physics to Other Areas
• Solid State Physics Research often benefits from interaction
with researchers from other areas of physics & from
engineering. So, often it is truly interdisciplinary in nature.
• This aspect of it is
illustrated abstractly
in the figure
Condensed Matter Systems
Hard Matter
Soft Matter
Polymer
Colloidal
Dispersions Melts and
Crystalline Solids
Non-Crystalline
Solutions
(Metals, Insulators,
Solids
Liquid
Semiconductors)
Crystals
Crystalline
Biomatter
QuasicrystalsAmorphous
Solids +
(proteins,
Solids (Glass)
Defects
(point,
membranes,
dislocations,
nucleic acids)
Polymer
surfaces and
Solids (Glass
interfaces)
and Rubber)
PHYS 624: Introduction to Solid State Physics