Introduction to Solid State Physics for Materials Engineers

Emil Zolotoyabko

• Publisher: Wiley-VCH
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9783527348848
• eBook ISBN: 9783527831593
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Condensed Matter

A concise, accessible, and up-to-date introduction to solid state physics

Solid state physics is the foundation of many of today's technologies including LEDs, MOSFET transistors, solar cells, lasers, digital cameras, data storage and processing. Introduction to Solid State Physics for Materials Engineers offers a guide to basic concepts and provides an accessible framework for understanding this highly application-relevant branch of science for materials engineers. The text links the fundamentals of solid state physics to modern materials, such as graphene, photonic and metamaterials, superconducting magnets, high-temperature superconductors and topological insulators. Written by a noted expert and experienced instructor, the book contains numerous worked examples throughout to help the reader gain a thorough understanding of the concepts and information presented.

The text covers a wide range of relevant topics, including propagation of electron and acoustic waves in crystals, electrical conductivity in metals and semiconductors, light interaction with metals, semiconductors and dielectrics, thermoelectricity, cooperative phenomena in electron systems, ferroelectricity as a cooperative phenomenon, and more. This important book:

• Provides a big picture view of solid state physics
• Contains examples of basic concepts and applications
• Offers a highly accessible text that fosters real understanding
• Presents a wealth of helpful worked examples

Written for students of materials science, engineering, chemistry and physics, Introduction to Solid State Physics for Materials Engineers is an important guide to help foster an understanding of solid state physics.

1
General Impact of Translational Symmetry in Crystals on Solid State Physics

Atomic order in crystals.

Local and translational symmetries.

Symmetry impact on physical properties in crystals.

Wave propagation in periodic media.

Quasi-momentum conservation law.

Reciprocal space.

Wave diffraction conditions.

Degeneracy of electron energy states at the Brillouin zone boundary.

Diffraction of valence electrons and bandgap formation.

In contrast to liquids or gases, atoms in a solid state, in average (over time), are located at fixed atomic positions. The thermally assisted movements around them or between them are strongly limited in space (as for thermal vibrations in potential wells) or have rather low probabilities (as for long-range atomic diffusion). According to the types of the averaged long-range atomic arrangements, all solid materials can be sub-divided into the three following classes, i.e. regular crystals, amorphous materials, and quasicrystals.

Most solid materials are regular (conventional) crystals with fully ordered and periodic atomic arrangements, which can be described by the set of translated elementary blocks (unit cells) densely covering the space with no voids. Nowadays, using the advanced characterization methods, such as high-resolution electron microscopy or scanning tunneling microscopy, it is possible to directly visualize this atomic periodicity (Figure 1.1). Due to the translational symmetry, the key phenomenon – namely, diffraction of short-wavelength quantum beams (electrons, X-rays, neutrons) – takes place. As we show in the following text, sharp diffraction peaks (or spots), which are the “visiting card” of crystalline state, are originated from the quasi-momentum (quasi-wavevector) conservation law in 3D.

In contrary, amorphous materials, being characterized by some kind of short-range ordering, do not reveal atomic order on a long range (Figure 1.2). In other words, certain correlations between atomic positions exist within a few first coordination spheres only and rapidly attenuate and disappear at longer...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Preface
• Introduction
• 1 General Impact of Translational Symmetry in Crystals on Solid State Physics
• 2 Electron Waves in Crystals
• 3 Elastic Wave Propagation in Periodic Media, Phonons, and Thermal Properties of Crystals
• 4 Electrical Conductivity in Metals
• 5 Electron Contribution to Thermal Properties of Crystals
• 6 Electrical Conductivity in Semiconductors
• 7 Work Function and Related Phenomena
• 8 Light Interaction with Metals and Dielectrics
• 9 Light Interaction with Semiconductors
• 10 Cooperative Phenomena in Electron Systems: Superconductivity
• 11 Cooperative Phenomena in Electron Systems: Ferromagnetism
• 12 Ferroelectricity as a Cooperative Phenomenon
• 13 Other Examples of Cooperative Phenomena in Electron Systems
• Further Reading
• List of Prominent Scientists Mentioned in the Book
• Index
• End User License Agreement