Course Description: Introduction to the behavior of ideal and real materials, including mechanical, electrical, thermal, magnetic and optical responses of materials; importance of microstructure in behavior.

Pre-requisite: MATH 241, PHYS 263 and ENES 230 or permission of the Associate Chair.

Texbook(s): Required: 1. Introduction to Solid State Physics, C. Kittel, 7^th edition, Wiley, 1996; 2. Understanding the Properties of Matter, M. De Podesta, UCL Press, 1996. Recommended: Intro Solid State Physics, H. P. Myers, Taylor and Francis. Material from other sources will be used also when appropriate. A copy of Understanding the Properties of Matter is available in the library.

Course Objectives: At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to understand and to describe the physical principles underlying the structural, electrical, thermal, optical, magnetic and mechanical properties of materials; which parameters are used to measure these properties in real materials; and how does atomic arrangement (microstructure) modify these properties.

I. Structure of Materials

A. Phenomena and Materials (Properties - Structure)

1. Types of materials

B. Crystals (K. Chap. 1)

1. Types of crystals (geometrical description)

2. Lattices, indices

3. Direct and reciprocal space

4. Applications (DP, 2.2.3, 7.2.1)

II. Structural analysis (K. Chap.2):

A. Wave propagation

B. Diffraction principles

III. Binding energies (K. Chap. 3, DP Chap. 6):

A. Binding energies and the periodic table

1. Classical approach

2. Quantum mechanical approach (digression - review of SE)

B. Insulators, Metals, Semiconductors

IV. Mechanical Properties in Solid Materials (DP, Sec. 7.3, K Chap. 3):

A. Lattice vibrations

Strains in materials

B. Applications - speed of sound in solid materials

(note: defects are covered in ENMA 363 and ENMA 671)

V. Thermal Properties in Solid Materials (K. Chap 4 and 5, DP Sec. 7.4, 7.6):

A. Lattice vibrations

B. Specific Heat

C. Thermal expansion

D. Thermal conductivity

VI. Electrical and Optical Properties of Solids (K. Chapter 6, 7, DP Sec. 7.5, 7.7)

A. Free electron theory of metals

B. Nearly Free electron theory

Energy gap - diffraction revisited

C. Properties

Conductivity

Resistivity

D. Semiconductors

E. Dielectric response in insulators

F. Optical properties of solid materials

(Note: order and number of topics subject to change)

Lecture: Mon - Wed 3:30 - 4:45PM, RM. MTH B0423

Two (2) partial examinations (or reports) and homeworks: 70%

Exam dates:

Final: 30%

Date assigned by the University: Monday December 17, 8-10 AM, room TBA.

Homeworks will be assigned on a 1.5 week or bi-weekly basis. The instructor will select homework problems to be graded and combined for the equivalent of an exam grade. Graded problems will include questions related to reading assignments, both quantitative as well as qualitative. Homeworks may also include mini-reports (oral or written) on papers related to the class material. Other homework problems will be collected but not graded.

The exams will be based on the material covered in the textbook and any other material assigned for reading or distributed in class.

This course is a required upper level undergraduate/introductory graduate course on the physical properties of solid materials. It covers the basic knowledge and understanding of structure - property relationships of materials.

Contribution of course to program objectives:

This is a required core course in Materials Science and Engineering. Its purpose is to allow students to become familiar in the application of physical principals to the study of materials.

Prof. Luz J. Martínez-Miranda

Bldg. 090 (CHE) RM 1110D

Office hours: TBA week of Sept. 6