Info
| Course Code | PCC304 |
| Semester | 6 |
| Category | Basic |
| Points | 4 |
| ECTS Units | 7 |
| Eclass | https://eclass.upatras.gr/courses/PHY2139/ |
Course Description
General properties of metals. The free electron gas. Classical approach. Drude model. Quantum approach. Sommerfeld model. Limits of the free electron model. Crystalline and amorphous materials. Crystal lattice. Crystal structure. The reciprocal lattice. X rays diffraction from lattice. Bragg condition. X rays diffraction from crystal (Laue theory). X rays diffraction from free electron and atom. Structure factor. Experimental determination of crystal structure using X rays, electrons and neutrons.
Crystal bonding. Elastic and plastic deformation- Hooke’s law. Failure of the static model. Lattice vibrations. Phonons. Energy density in lattice. Exact theory of molecular heat. Optical properties of lattice in the infrared. Ionic crystals. The non-armonic approach.
Origin of energy bands. Electron wavefunctions in periodic potential. Nearly free electron theory approximation. The tight – binding approximation. Metals-insulators- semiconductors. Density of states. Fermi surface. Bloch electron. Effective mass. Holes. Experimental determination of energy bands. Structure of energy bands in semiconductors. Carrier concentration in doped semiconductors – in compensated semiconductors. Electric conductivity of semiconductors- mobility. Carrier scattering mechanisms. Hall effect in semiconductors.
