4021011 – Electronic Properties of Solids I WS26/27

Lecture will be in English.

Format: Lecture course
Prerequisites: Quantum mechanics, statistical physics, electromagnetism, and introductory solid-state physics

Competence Goal
Students will be familiar with the most common experimental methods for studying the electronic properties of condensed matter and some of the key theoretical concepts that underlie them. They master the basic tools for studying and understanding heat transport, scattering mechanisms, phase transitions, and magnetism. Exercises will reinforce the acquired knowledge and apply it to classical condensed matter problems

Content
- Metal and insulators: Band structure, Fermi surface
- Electronic and heat transport - scattering mechanisms
- Phase transitions: Landau theory, critical exponents
- Atomic magnetism and magnetic interactions
- Magnetic structures, dynamics

Workload
300 hours consisting of attendance time (75 hours), wrap-up of the lecture incl. exam
preparation and preparation of the
exercises (225 hours)

Recommendation
Basic knowledge of solid state physics, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics and statistical physics is assumed.

Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Explain the role of crystal periodicity in determining electronic states in solids (Brillouin zones, Bloch’s theorem ).
2. Distinguish metals, semiconductors, and insulators in terms of band filling and band gaps and describe the density of states and Fermi-Dirac statistics in solids and relate them to thermodynamic and transport properties.
3. Explain experimental methods to determine the shape of the Fermi surface and/or the band structure (quantum oscillations, ARPES)
4. Analyze charge carrier dynamics under external electric and magnetic fields using semiclassical equations of motion and Boltzmann equations and apply them to electrical or heat conductivity, Hall effect
5. Understand the origin and nature of scattering in crystalline solids.
6. Acquire basic notions of screening, apply this to the electronic susceptibility and to the formation of charge/spin density waves (Fermi surface nesting).
7. Understand the microscopic origin of magnetism in matter
8. Understand the various form of magnetic phases and their origin
9. Get familiarized with mainstream experimental method for the investigation of magnetic properties and structures in condensed matter.

Teaching and learning methods
• Formal lectures with board work and/or slides
• Derivation-based presentation of central models
• Guided discussion of physical interpretation
• Problem-oriented examples embedded in lectures
• Optional exercise sheets or recommended self-study problems

Assessment
• Oral examination on the core concepts and theoretical framework of the course;

Expected assessed competencies
Students may be expected to:
• use the main equations of standard electronic-structure models,
• solve quantitative problems involving reciprocal space, density of states, band filling, and transport,
• interpret the electronic classification of materials using band concepts,
• explain the assumptions and limitations of the models discussed in class.

Recommended literature
Suitable references include standard upper-level solid-state physics textbooks such as:
• N. W. Ashcroft and N. D. Mermin, Solid State Physics
• C. Kittel, Introduction to Solid State Physics
• R. Gross and A. Marx, Festkörperphysik
• G. Grüner, Density waves in Solids
• P. M. Chaikin and T. C. Lubensky, Principle of Condensed Matter Physics
• S. Blundell, Magnetism in Condensed Matter

Level: beginning graduate (physics)

Deutsch

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22. Okt 2026, 09:18 - 5. Mär 2027, 09:18

Sie können diesem Kurs direkt beitreten.

Unbegrenzt

22. Okt 2026, 21:12 - 1. Mär 2027, 21:12

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4025826