Condensed Matter 1

Gecondenseerde materie 1

Owner	Bachelor Natuur- en Sterrenkunde (joint degree)
Coordinator	prof. dr. Mark Golden
Part of	Minor Physics and Astronomy: Energy and Sustainability, year 1Dubbele bachelor Wis- en Natuurkunde, year 2Bachelor Bèta-gamma, major Natuurkunde, year 2Bachelor Physics and Astronomy (Joint Degree), year 2Bachelor Bèta-gamma, major Natuurkunde, year 3

Course manual 2021/2022

Course content

The world around us is dominated by solids. Correspondingly, condensed matter physics is the largest sub-discipline in the global physics research scene, and one in which Dutch physics plays a prominent role. This lecture course (GM1) introduces the most important concepts that underpin modern (quantum) condensed matter and materials physics.

GM1 (or CondMat1) - as the course is abbreviated - acts as a good basis / or inspiration for the following courses:

• Quantum Concepts – 2nd year, Period 3
• Cond-mat-2– 3rd year, Period 1
• Fundamentals of Photonics – 2nd year, Period 5

Concepts and ideas used in GM1/CM1 will return and some of the ‘missing’ theory background will be filled-in in these courses:

• Statistical physics 2nd year, Period 5
• Quantum Physics 2 – 2nd year , Period 4
• Advanced Quantum Physics – 3rd year, Period 1.
• Atomic Physics– 3rd year, Period 2.

GM1 addresses the topics of bonding, crystal structure, free electrons in metals, the impact of periodic lattice potential on electronic wavefunction and energy levels, the properties and description of semiconductors and semiconductor devices like LEDs or solar cells.

The basic structure is 14 lectures and 14 problem-solving classes, plus a lab-tour within the UvA's IoP, the aim of the latter being to give you a taste of how experimental research into solid state materials is really done in practice.

If you would like to:

• understand how the theoretical physics describing the quantum properties of electrons in lattices leads to such a broad variety in the physical properties of materials (metals, insulators, semiconductors)
• understand how the physics behind the electronic and optical properties of solids can be exploited in the devices which underpin unmissable elements of modern society such as the semiconductor transistor, photovoltaics and optoelectronic devices such as LEDs

then this is the course for you.

Study materials

Literature

• J.R. Hook and H.E. Hall, 'Solid state physics', Second Edition, Wiley, ISBN 0-471-92805-4.

Other

• As appropriate, additional study material will be placed on Canvas.

Objectives

• be able to describe the microscopic structure of a solid, and explain how this arises from its composition and atomic bonding, and how the structure can be determined experimentally
• be able to describe the key quantum properties of electrons in metals and to explain how they are relevant for electronic transport
• be able to explain how the quantum character of electrons and the periodicity of lattice combine to influence the electronic properties of crystalline materials so distinguishing between metals, semiconductors and insulators
• be able to explain how the electronic properties of solids are influenced by external factors such as temperature or electric field
• be able to derive analytical expressions for the band structure of simple crystalline solids
• be able to describe and explain how the free electron model of metals can be applied to semiconductors
• be able to understand and explain the electronic and optical properties of semiconductors, comparing and contrasting to the case of metals and insulators
• be able to understand and describe the connection between the microscopic structure with the macroscopic electronic and optical properties of semiconductor devices, leading to the ability to evaluate and identify suitable application areas for different individual device structures

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Seminar
• Self-study
• Fieldwork/excursion

****** We refer to the FNWI's COVID-19 guidelines (date 5Sept2021) and ask all students to please follow them:

• The 1.5m distance rule has been dropped in the UvA buildings;
• Wearing a facemask is compulsory when moving around in the building;
• We would prefer you to wear a facemask during lectures;
• Follow the designated walking routes when moving around;
• Observe the rules regarding max. 75 students in a room;
• Observe the hygiene rules;
• Clean your study area beforehand and tidy up afterwards (put all rubbish in the waste bin);
• Do not stay on campus unnecessarily: go home immediately after a lecture if you do not have a follow-up lecture or other commitments;
• Take a self-test at least twice a week even if you are vaccinated. The tests can be ordered free of charge at zelftestonderwijs.nl;
• If you have symptoms, stay at home and take a test;
• If any symptoms develop during your stay on campus, go home and take a test;
• We would appreciate it if you report a positive (self-)test to your teacher.
• The UvA encourages you to get vaccinated. You can make an appointment via www.coronatest.nl or prikkenzonderafspraak.rijksoverheid.nl. Or visit the GGD vaccination location on the Roeterseiland campus. You don't need to make an appointment! If you have any questions or doubts about this, we are open to help you with your choice.
• Use the Coronamelder app.

******

Lecture, in a plenary setting (abbreviated as L)

The lectures are intended to awake interest, providing both context and a first meeting point with the material. They are not intended to be exhaustive or 'enough' on their own for a student to pick up the necessary skills and knowledge to master the course. Following the lectures (real-time and/or via the films =‘webcolleges’) and using the lecture sheets/notes, plus working with the book, with any additional material on Bb, and - crucially - active participation in the problem-solving classes are essential for success.

GM1 contains lots of concepts that are new to the 2nd year students for whom the course is designed. The lectures try to help the students become able to internalise these concepts and - after thought and work from the students' side -  the core framework of condensed matter physics at this level should crystallize in the course of this lecture series. The lectures are - naturally - a place at which the astute student can pick up the emphasis and relative importance of the (many) new concepts, factual knowledge and procedures that are offered in class.

Lectures are FILMED and can be watched / re-watched at your leisure. The weblink for the filmed lectures is here:

https://webcolleges.uva.nl/Mediasite/Channel/4273a13b3535431aa8eab7d0ac489c345f

Problem solving classes (PSCs)

Active and serious participation in the PSCs and the problems set is a vital part of the success formula for GM1. The test questions in PE1 and PE2 are just like the PSC questions, and thus getting to know how to recognise the problem being asked and an efficient route to take to get to the answers. 'Doing it' is by the far the best way to pick up essential skills such as the application of knowledge, analysis of new problems, the evaluation of the relative impact of different factors, analysis of the merits and weaknesses of different models for different materials and creating connections between macroscopic and macroscopic properties. Working in groups is encouraged, but we emphasize that each individual student should be doing the exercises themselves, using the rest of the group to discuss the material and to help overcome the inevitable blockages that crop up on the way to successful completion of the exercises. Just looking over someone else's shoulder, reading their answers to a problem and saying 'oh yeah…….' does not generally do the trick, so please DIY.

 

Learning activities

Attendance

Programme's requirements concerning attendance (TER-B):

• Each student is expected to participate actively in each component of the programme that he/she signed up for. A student that does not attend the first two seminars of a course, will be administratively removed from the seminar group. A request for reregistration for the seminars can be applied to the programme coordinator.
• If a student cannot attend an obligatory component of a programme's component due to circumstances beyond his control, he must report in writing to the relevant teacher as soon as possible. The teacher, if necessary after consulting the study adviser, may decide to issue the student a replacing assignment.
• It is not allowed to miss obligatory commponents of the programme if there is no case of circumstances beyond one's control.
• In case of participating qualitatively or quantitatively insufficiently, the examiner can expel a student from further participation in the programme's component or a part of that component. Conditions for sufficient participation are set down in advance in the course manual.
• In addition to the above mentioned rules, in the first semester of the first year a student should be present in at least 80% of the seminars. Moreover, participation to midterm tests and obligatory homework is required. If the student does not comply with these obligations, the student is expelled from the resit of this course. Students in the double Bachelor's degree programme Mathematics and Physics are exempted from this requirement. In case of personal circumstances, as described in OER-A Article A-6.4, a different study plan will be made in consultation with the study advisor.

Additional requirements for this course:

none.

Assessment

Item and weight	Details
Final grade
1 (100%) Partial Exam 1 (PE1)

Examining GM1

At the end of the first half (L1-L7), PE1 is set: the first partial exam. PE1 will be 2.5h in duration (for regular time students).

At the end of the 2nd half (L8-L14), comes PE2. This is the second partial exam, and this covers the material in the 2nd half of the course. PE2 will be 2.5h in duration (for regular time students).

PE1-retake - this is a re-take option for PE1, as an added 'service' to students. We hold this directly after the PE2 partial exam. PE1-retake will be 1.5h in duration (for regular time students).

Global retake - this is the re-take of GM1 as a whole, and this always covers the whole of the course material. The Global retake will be 2.5h in duration (for regular time students).

GM1 exam rules and calculations (all marks mentioned are out of 10 [ten]):

• • Please read this carefully. In order to spread the load for you as students, and to offer a maximum of fair opportunities to show us you master the material, we have a carefully crafted exam system. You’ll save yourself time and pain if you understand the rules, now – not after the exams.
  • To be able to count, each and every partial exam (i.e. PE1, PE1-retake, and PE2) need to score greater than or equal to 5 (without rounding, so a 4.95=fail).
  • If your PE1 (held end September) score is 5 or above, then PE2 (held end October) is all you then need to sit: if your PE2 score is 5 or above, and the average of your PE1 and PE2 scores is equal to or greater than 5.5: success.
  • If your PE1 was <5, then your next option is to take PE1-retake and PE2. Both these exams are at the end of October (in this first online-only year for GM1 not in the same sitting). This combination of PE1-retake +PE2 covers the whole course material. As both PE1-retake and PE2 are partial exams, you need to score at least a five in both (i.e. a 4.95 for one or both = fail), and then the average of both still has to be at least a 5.5, then: success.
  • If your PE1-retake <5, or your PE2 <5, or both of these are at a 5 or more but the average of both is <5.5, then unfortunately you have failed GM1. Then the Global retake, covering the whole course material is held in early January (the 4th) is the only option in this academic year. If your Global retake score is greater than or equal to 5.5 (rounding to a six), then: success.

The Course Manual .pdf on Canvas contains a useful flow diagramme explaining this more simply. 

Breakdown of final GM1 mark:

• 100% of the total mark is from the sum of PE1 (50%) and PE2 (50%), or equivalent combinations involving retake-PE1 (retakePE1 50% PE2 50%) or the GlobalRetake (100%).
   As an example, if you score an 8.5 for PE1 and a 7.5 for PE2 then 100% of your total GM1 mark is a 7.5.

Please note:

Succeeding in both PE1 + PE2 is the shortest route to success in GM1, spreading the learning over two time-points: so please take PE1 very seriously, and ditto for PE2.

Inspection of assessed work

Contact the course coordinator to make an appointment for inspection.

To take a look at your completed exam questions and how they were marked, please contact Mark Golden (M.S.Golden@uva.nl) for PE1, retake-PE1, global-retake or Anna Isaeva (A.Isaeva@uva.nl) for PE2 and global-retake.

Assignments

PSC exercises

• see PSCs above; students are encouraged to form a learning team (~4 students in total) to help both overcoming blocks when approaching problems, and to boost (social) cohesion within GM1. Students should DO the PSC problems THEMSELVES.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Honours information

-

Additional information

Recommended prior knowledge:

It’s useful if you have had these courses or similar from elsewhere:

Quantumfysica-1, Elektriciteit en magnetisme, Trillingen & golven, thermische fysica.

However, given sufficient motivation and willingness to work hard, we have seen students enjoy and succeed at GM1 without these, so we do not make them a entry requirement.

Language:

Lectures will be given in English. All three TA’s have excellent English (one of the three is a Dutch speaker, too). All examination papers will be in English, and all exam questions are proof-read by a native English speaker. Try your best to answer exam questions in English. If you blank out or are in time trouble (for example), use Dutch if you want. Legible hand-writing is MUCH more important that whether you use English or Dutch.

During lectures questions can also be asked in Dutch (of course), or another language the lecturer is fluent in [Russian (Anna), or German [Mark and Anna]…], if English poses too much of a barrier.

 

Processed course evaluations

Our thanks to the stud­ents who responded to the end-of-course questionnaire: we value your opinion highly.
Pity no-one showed to the zoom-face to zoom-face (SRS) meeting.

The 2020-2021 course was purely online, so this year's version is significantly different. Due to the timing trouble we had to give student's their marks for hand-in assignments (last year), we have removed this element for this year's course. We will also take care exam lengths/times are optimised.

Contact information

Coordinator

• prof. dr. Mark Golden

Mark Golden: lecturer and coordinator, m.s.golden@uva.nl. Teaches first half of the course, covered by PartialExam1.  

Anna Isaeva: lecturer, a.isaeva@uva.nl. Teaches second half of the course, covered by PartialExam2.

TA team: Arnaud Nono Tchiomo (group A), Sergio Barquero Pierantoni (group B), Tadé Hogenelst (group C)

a.p.nonotchiomo@uva.nl; sergiob1997@gmail.com; tnhogenelst@gmail.com