INTRODUCTION TO THE PHYSICS OF MATTER (UNIT 2)
Learning outcomes of the course unit
Knowledge and understanding
• understanding the basic concepts of modern Matter Physics and acquisition of the physical models for a comprehensive interpretation of phenomena in molecular physics and solid state physics
Applying knowledge and understanding
• ability to understand and manage fundamental physical models to interpret molecular or solid state phenomena
• ability to evaluate the order of magnitude of the physical observables, to perform basic calculations and to solve simple problems relevant to the structure of matter
Course contents summary
Molecular physics:
-Born-Oppenheimer approximation
-Diatomic molecules: rotovibrational energies; ground and exicted states in hydrogen molecular ion and in H2;
orbital molecular model
- Polyatomic molecules:ibridization
-Molecular spectra:rotational,vibration-rotation and electronic spectra;Raman effect
Solid state physics:
-Crystalline structures: Symmetries and Bravais lattices; reciprocal lattice; x-ray and neutron diffraction techniques; Bragg and Laue models
Crystal defects: Schottky and Frenkel defects; colour centre defects; dislocations
- Lattice vibrations: dispertion relation for monoatomic and diatomic linear chain, phonons
-Thermal properties: Einstein and Debye models
-Free electron
-Block Theorem: energy bands; metals and insulators
-Main properties of semiconductors
-An outline of the superconductivity
-Magnetic properties: diamagnetism, Langevin paramagnetism; quantistic theory of paramagnetism, Pauli paramagnetism; ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic order
Recommended readings
G.B. Bachelet, V.D.P.Servedio - Elementi di Fisica Atomica e molecolare e dei solidi- Aracne Editrice (2014)
B.H. Bransden and C.J. Joachain - Physics of Atoms and Molecules- Longman Scientific(1985)
C.Kittel- Introduction to Solid State Physics- Wiley (2004)
Teaching methods
Lectures, exercizes and homeworks
Assessment methods and criteria
For the students attending the course, the exam is organized as follows:
• Three written exams, during the year, relevant to numerical exercises of molecular physics and solid state physics, aimed to verify the ability of the student to properly apply the fundamental physical models for the physical phenomena at the atomic scale, to master the order of magnitude of the physical observables and to solve problems relevant to material properties. The first exam will consist in numerical exercises of molecular physics. The second exam will be relative to the crystalline structure, while the last will be relevant to the thermal, electronic and magnetic properties of the materials, with a particular attention to metallic and semiconductors systems
• A possible oral exam (chosen by the student) will be to improve the results of the written tests.
The final mark will result from the average of the marks obtained in the 3 above-mentioned exams and in the oral test.
For the students not attending the course, the exam is organized as follows:
• A written exam relevant to numerical exercises of molecular physics and solid state physics, aimed to verify the ability of the student to properly apply the fundamental physical models for the physical phenomena at the atomic scale, to master the order of magnitude of the physical observables and to solve problems relevant to material properties.
• A possible oral exam (chosen by the student) will be to improve the results of the written tests.
The duration of the written exams is 2 hours. Students will be allowed to carry books or notes; synthetic notes (with fundamental constants, periodic table of elements, several fundamental formulas) will be available to support the students in the exam.
