Descriptif

Condensed matter physics deals with the microscopic description of themacroscopic physical properties of matter when the interactions between its constituents are very strong. It has an overlap with materials science, chemistry, biophysics and nanotechnology, and relates closely to atomic and molecular physics. Progress in materials elaboration has always been a driving force for technological progress: semiconductors, magnetic memory devices (“hard disks”), composite materials, or nanostructures are only few examples of solid state systems that directly connect fundamental concepts to applied physics.

This course provides an elementary introduction to condensed matter physics. Starting from the laws of quantum mechanics governing the constituents of matter, the course explores how the electronic properties of materials at the macroscopic scale emerge from the microscopic organization on an atomic or molecular scale. It will cover theoretical, experimental and technological aspects. The necessary theoretical concepts of statistical physics will be introduced heuristically during the course, and will be put on a sound foundation in the 6th semester course “Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics”.

The following subjects are expected to be treated:

• Crystal structures and symmetries. Structural characterization of solids.
• Quantum mechanics of electrons in crystalline solids, band theory.
• Metals, insulators and semiconductors.
• Transport properties (electric, thermal and thermoelectric)
• Collective phenomena (electronic orders including superconductivity)
• Spectroscopies: x-ray and neutron diffraction, tunneling

Microscopy, photoemission