Physics 444 Solid State Physics
Spring Semester 2008

 
This course is an elective physics course, thus I expect that those enrolled are looking to get a taste of solid state physics. For this reason, the course grades will be determined by homework assignments and a project, each worth 50% (no exams!). Homework will be assigned weekly and students are encouraged to work together.

Problem Assignments


  Problem Assignment 1: Kittel Chapter 1, problems 1-3, due 1/25 (Friday)
  Problem Assignment 2: Kittel Chapter 2, problems 1-3,5-7 due 2/01 (Friday)
  Problem Assignment 3: Kittel Chapter 3, problems 1,3,5,6,9,11 due 2/08 (Friday)
  Problem Assignment 4: Kittel Chapter 4, problems 3-7, due 2/15 (Friday); we'll discuss #7 in class
  Problem Assignment 5: Kittel Chapter 5, problems 1-5, due 2/22 (Friday)
  Problem Assignment 6: Kittel Chapter 6, problems 1-3,6,7,9 due 2/29 (Friday)
 
 

 
  The project is an opportunity for each of you to study a topic that you are most interested in that may or may not be covered during the semester. The project is very flexible and open-ended. It can be theoretical, numerical or experimental in nature. It is worth a large portion of the total grade, but that is divided up into pieces:
    10% Description of proposed project (~1 page) which includes:
  1. topic
  2. type of project (i.e., theoretical, numerical, experimental)
  3. How you intend to do the project (i.e., if computational, then you might write a program in [language of choice] that [what it does].
  4. Educational value: what you expect to learn related to the topic and/or what skills you are trying to develop
    30% Project work
  1. If experiment, keep lab notes/manual to submit
  2. If numerical, turn in code
  3. If theoretical, turn in notes (similar to long hw assignment)
    30% Write up (like a mini-journal article)
  1. Introduction: background & motivation
  2. Procedure (something that describes what you did)
  3. Results
  4. Conclusions/Discussions
  5. References. Include any text books, lab manual used. Also include a minimum of 2 referreed journal articles.
    30% Presentation(s) (talk/demonstration)
     
      More about the Project (I'm not trying to scare you). The first write-up is basically for us to start a discussion about what you want to do. It should be written using correct grammar, but is not going to be scrutinized. The project grade will be determined in part by the effort you put into the project. This will hopefully be evident in your write-up as well as your notes/code etc. The written part will be graded on the basis of effort, scientific content and grammar. I will give you an opportunity to revise. Finally, the presentation will be made to the class, most likely at the end of the semester (unless you consider the "installment plan" option...see below).
     
     
      Proposed timeline:
    1. Proposal due 3/3
    2. Most of the legwork should be completed about 3/31
    3. The write up (in as final form as possible) due 4/25. I'll read over it with suggestions/remarks and give you an opportunity to revise.
    4. Presentations during last week of class or during finals week, unless you take the alternative project plan (see below).

     
      OPTIONS: You are free to choose either one big project or several small ones. For instance, if you choose to do demos throughout the course that pertain do the current topic, those count toward the project work and presentation score. If you choose to do this, you do not have to do a written part for each experiment--choose your favorite and write that up.

    Text

    The official text for the course is Introduction to Solid State Physics, 8th edition by Kittel.