351: Introductory Physics of Materials
Quantum mechanics; applications to materials and engineering. Band structures and cohesive energy; thermal behavior; electrical conduction; semiconductors; amorphous semiconductors; magnetic behavior of materials; liquid crystals. Lectures, laboratory, problem solving. Prerequisites: GEN ENG 205 4 or equivalent; PHYSICS 135 2,3.
At the conclusion of 351-1 students will be able to:
- Solve the time-independent Schrödinger equation for simple one-dimensional potentials.
- Calculate probabilities of reflection and transmission for 1-D potential barriers or wells.
- Use the wavefunctions and energies of the hydrogen atom to determine the ground and excited state energies of hydrogenic systems.
- Describe models of bonding, including ionic, covalent, metallic, and Van der Waals, using quantum mechanical concepts of energy minimization.
- Calculate the specific heat for fermions (e.g. electrons) and bosons (e.g. phonons) in 1, 2, and 3 dimensions, given the density of states.
- Describe the impact of Fermi statistics on the electrical properties of metals.
- Use simple models of band-structure, such as the Feynman model and the Krönig-Penney model, to relate the properties of local atomic states to delocalized states (bands) in a material.
- Given the dispersion relationship, calculate the effective mass and density of states in the nearly free electron approximation.
- Determine the intrinsic and/or extrinsic carrier concentration in a semiconductor given the temperature, doping level, and other relevant quantities.