Faculty of Science

Objectives

To give a mastery of: the oscillation of a crystal lattice, the band theory of solids, electrical conductance of metals and semiconductors, contact and thermoelectric phenomena.

Contents

Oscillations of a Crystal Lattice: crystal lattice, Miller Indices, heat capacity of crystals, Einstein's Theory, oscillations of systems with a large number of degrees of freedom, Debye's Theory, phonons; The Band Theory of solids: Quantum theory of free electrons in a metal, the Fermi-Dirac distribution, energy bands in crystals, dynamics of electrons in a crystal lattice, Semi conducting materials; p-n Electrical conductance of Metals and Semiconductors: Electrical conductance of metals, superconductivity, semiconductors, intrinsic conductance of semiconductors, impurity conductance of semiconductors; Contact and thermoelectric phenomena: Work function, thermionic emission, electron tubes, contact potential difference, thermoelectric effects, semiconductor diodes and triodes, the barrier-layer photoelectric effects.

Prerequisite: