Prerequisites for PHYS 80501: Quantum Mechanics
I, II, III, Statistical Physics, Methods of Theoretical Physics, or equivalent
- or
reckless enthusiasm.
Topics (approximate):
- Free & Nearly free electron gas; Drude & Sommerfeld models;
Landau's Theory of Fermi liquid,
- Crystal symmetries, Reciprocal lattice, scattering experiments
- Bloch's theorem, band structure calculations
- Metals, impurities, Kondo effect, localization
- Phonons, anharmonic effects, measuring phonons
- Semiconductors
- Magnetism
- Superconductivity
Materials: The main textbook for the course is
"Solid State Physics" by Neil
W. Ashcroft and N. David Mermin
(Brooks/Cole/ Thompson Learning, 1976)
We are going to use, as a companion for several topics
as well as for homework assignments, the wonderful book and simulation package
written by Bob Silsbee and Joerg Draeger:
"Simulations for Solid State Physics: An
interactive resource for students and teachers"
Robert H. Silsbee and Joerg Draeger
(Cambridge University Press, 1997)
There are many other useful books that you may wish to
consult during the semester. A brief list of additional textbooks, monographs
is given below.
- P.W. Anderson: Concepts in Solids
- P.W. Anderson: Basic Notions of Condensed Matter Physics
- A.A. Abrikosov: Fundamentals of Metals
- C. Kittel: Introduction to Solid State Phyics
- C. Kittel: Quantum Theory of Solids
- L.D. Landau & E. M. Lifshitz: Statistical Physics Part II.
- J. M. Ziman: Principles of the theory of solids
The web page for this course will
be updated regularly with new information and resources. Please plan to check
this regularly for announcements.
Lectures: The
lectures are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30 am - 13:45 am,
in Room 123 NSH.
Homework problems and quizzes: One homework set approximately every 7-10
days.
The solutions must be turned in on due date. There will be penalty
for late
homework solutions. No homework will be accepted after the solution
set is
handed out during class. Problems should be neatly written, in
the order
assigned, on 8.5 x 11 pages stapled together (no torn edges or
paperclips).
You MUST explain your steps, and lead the reader through
your solution with sentences, phrases, etc., as if you would be writing
a scientific paper. A pile of formulae on a piece of paper is NOT an acceptable
style for the homework solutions.
Occasionally, quizzes on previously covered material will
be handed out at the beginning of the lecture. These quizzes are
intended to help you focus on the key results we obtained, and
provide you with bonus points (5 points max.) towards your current homework.
When preparing a homework please make sure you observe
the rules (see below) for collaborative work compatible with the Honor
Code of the University. Solutions are posted on the web page after the due
date, and you are strongly encouraged to check your solutions against those
posted.
Exams: The midterm
is scheduled for Thursday, October 12th, and the final will be administered
on (or around) Tuesday, December 12th, 2006.Exams
are open book and 'take-home': Only your lecture notes and the two
textbooks (see above) can accompany
you during your take-home exams. Honesty is expected and under the honor
system the primary responsibility for regulation lies with the students (see
below).
Grading scheme: Your final grade will be based on your overall performance in
all the course related activities. The numerical grade is calculated at
the end of the semester is calculated as a weighted average of your scores
obtained during the following activities or exams:
| Activity/Examination |
Frequency/Date |
Weight (%) |
| Class Participation |
Lectures |
See below |
| Homework |
Weekly (approximate) |
40 |
| Midterm |
Take-home, Thursday October 12th |
30 |
| Final Exam |
Take-home, on/around Tuesday, December 12th
|
30 |
- NOTE: for those with
a.) SUSTAINED class participation and b.) final numerical grade close to,
but below a borderline between two letter grades, I will give the
letter grade above the borderline.
- The exam dates and
times are fixed and will not be changed. Please plan accordingly.
- Makeups are available
ONLY for students with approved university excuses. You must notify
Professor Janko in writing BEFORE you miss a test, even for approved
University activities. (Emergencies such as sudden illness, accident,
death in the family, etc. must be documented by the University Health Center,
Counseling Center, or First Year Studies Office).
- All exams are cumulative:
you are expected to know ALL previously covered material.
The letter grade scale will
be based on the performance of the class as a whole. Please refer to the
following table to get some idea of the correspondence between the letter
grade and the expected level of performance in Physics 603.
|
Letter Grade
|
Performance
|
|
A
|
- Has a firm understanding of all concepts covered in
class,
- Has a global understanding of the interconnected nature
of laws and principles learned during the entire semester,
- Can solve most problems, new or similar to those discussed
in class and in homework.
|
|
B
|
- Has a firm understanding of most concepts,
- Recognizes some relationships between laws and principles
learned in different chapters,
- Can solve most problems that are similar to those discussed
in class/homework, and some of the new problems,
|
|
C
|
- Has a reasonable understanding of most concepts,
- Recognizes some relationships between laws and principles
learned in the same chapters,
- Can solve only problems that are similar to those discussed
in class/homework,
|
|
D
|
- Has a limited understanding of some concepts,
- Recognizes only a few relationships between laws and principles
learned in the same chapters,
- Can solve only the simplest problems,
- Attends all lectures, makes genuine efforts to complete all homework
problems
|
|
F
|
- Little or no understanding of the concepts and phenomena,
- Routinely misses lectures, and/or homework assignments.
|
Honor Code: As a
precondition for your admission to the University of Notre Dame, you agreed
to abide by the University's Academic Code of Honor. Specifically, you pledged
not to receive or give unauthorized aid on a exam, quiz, lab report, or homework
assignment. While collaboration is encouraged in class and during the discussion
sessions, please make sure you observe the following rules:
- During homework preparation you must
spend at least one hour working alone on a particular problem before you
can seek assistance from a friend, study group, tutor, or teaching assistant.
They should ask you guiding questions or point you towards resources that
will help you discover your own solution. You cannot ask them to show
you how to completely solve the problem, nor can you accept such extensive
help.
- Under no circumstances should you copy
or even look at someone else's solution to a problem before you have submitted
your own homework, quiz, or exam for credit.
Any suspected violation of the Honor Code
will be turned over to the Departmental Honesty Committe for investigation.
Penalties can be as severe as dismissal from the University.