Course 520.407
Introduction to Electrical and
Optical Properties of Materials
Fall 2007
Mon, Wed 2.00PM-3.30PM
Instructor Jacob B Khurgin
Hodson 203
Textbook: Solymar and Walsh “Electrical Properties of Materials”, 7th Edition
Class notes: available on website:
Week 1: Classical (Drude) theory of electronic transport in solids. DC and AC conductivity. Hall Effect. Cyclotron Resonance. Book: Chapter 1. Notes: Chapter 1.
Week 2: Specific heat, thermal conductivity and thermoelectric effects. Successes and shortcomings of the classical theory.
Homework 1 is out.
Week 3 Classical theory of optical and dielectric properties. Maxwell Equations. Book: Chapter 1. Notes: Chapters 1 and 2 .
Homework 1 is due
Week 4: Wave equations. Electromagnetic
waves. Energy and power of electro-magnetic waves. Classical theory of polarizability. Book: Chapter 1. Notes: Chapters 2
and 3..
Homework 2 is out.
Week 5 Electromagnetic waves in metals. Classical theory of radiation. Photo-electric effect. Successes and shortcomings of the classical theory of optical properties. Notes: Chapters 3 and 4.
Homework 2 is due
Homework 3 is out.
Week 6 Electron as a wave: interference an diffraction. Wave packets. Uncertainty principle. Book: Chapter 2. Notes: Chapter 5.
Homework 3 is due,
Week 7. Electron in simple systems. Schrödinger’s equation. Tunneling. Electron in a potential well. Hydrogen atom and periodic table. Book: Chapters 3,4. Notes: Chapters 6,7
Take home MIDTERM is out
Week 8. Bonding in solids Book: Chapter 5. Notes: Chapter 8.
MIDTERM is due
Homework 4 is out.
Week 9 Band theory. Book: Chapter 7. Notes: Chapter 9
Homework 4 is due
Homework 5 is out.
Week 10 Quantum theory of electrical transport properties. Book: Chapters 6,7. Notes: Chapter 10
Homework 5 is due
Homework 6 is out
Week 11 Quantum theory of magnetic properties. Book: Chapters 11. Notes: Chapter 10_A
Homework 6 is due
Week 12 Semiconductors . Book: Chapter 8. Notes: Chapter 11
Homework 7 is out.
Week 13 Semi-classical theory of dielectric and optical properties Notes: Chapter 12
Homework 7 is due.
Week 14 Review of the material
FINAL