6 ECTS credits
175 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1001399CNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (C) Bachelor - specialised level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Students who want to enroll for this course, must have passed for “Introduction to Quantum Physics”.
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Department
Physics
Educational team
Guy Verschaffelt (course titular)
Guy Van Der Sande
Activities and contact hours

26 contact hours Lecture
26 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
Course Content

1. Introduction to solid state physics

2. Bonds in solids

  • Inter-atomic bonds
  • Crystal defects: point defects and dislocations
  • Crystal growth and characterization

3. Phonons: lattice vibrations and thermal properties

4. The free-electron Fermi gas

  • Density of states in 3D, 2D, 1D en 0D
  • Heat capacity
  • Conductivity

5. Energy bands in crystals

  • Bloch theorem
  • Kronig-Penney
  • Metals, semiconductors and isolators

6. Semiconductors

7. Intrinsic charge densities

8. Generation and recombination of charge carriers

9. Junctionsof semiconductors

10. Superconductivity

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Fysica van de gecondenseerde materie, Cursusnota's, Tijdens de les en via canvas.vub.be
Handbook (Recommended) : Introduction to Solid State Physics, C. Kittel, 8de, Wiley, 9780471415268, 2005
Additional info

Course notes.

Notes taken during the lectures, lecture slides will be given to the students.

Complementary study material:
'Introduction to Solid State Physics' C. KITTEL.

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

The course aims to teach physics students a basic knowledge of solid state physics. The students obtain an insight into the structuring of solids in crystals. The students know how lattice vibrations can be described based of phonons, and how the heat and electrical conduction in solids can be calculated. They know how the energy band structure of a crystal is calculated and interpreted. They know the difference between metals, semiconductors and insulators, and know how the carrier density can be calculated. The students know the operation of semiconductor junctions and the basic characteristics of superconductors.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • exm mondeling en labo verslag with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: Mondeling (met schriftelijke voorbereiding). Verslagen van de labo-sessies. Labo's zijn verplicht en kunnen niet herkanst worden in 2de zit.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Oral (with written preparation). Reports of the lab sessions. Labs are obligatory and no resit is possible in the second examination period.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Physics and Astronomy: Default track (only offered in Dutch)