Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 The nature of condensed matter
- 2 Order and disorder
- 3 Crystals, scattering, and correlations
- 4 Surfaces and crystal growth
- 5 Classical and quantum waves
- 6 The non-interacting electron model
- 7 Dynamics of non-interacting electrons
- 8 Dielectric and optical properties
- 9 Electron interactions
- 10 Superfluidity and superconductivity
- References
- Index
Preface
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 The nature of condensed matter
- 2 Order and disorder
- 3 Crystals, scattering, and correlations
- 4 Surfaces and crystal growth
- 5 Classical and quantum waves
- 6 The non-interacting electron model
- 7 Dynamics of non-interacting electrons
- 8 Dielectric and optical properties
- 9 Electron interactions
- 10 Superfluidity and superconductivity
- References
- Index
Summary
This book is intended as a textbook for a graduate course in condensed matter physics. It is based on many years' experience in teaching in the Physics department at The University of Michigan. The material here is more than enough for a one-semester course. Usually I teach two semesters, and in the second, I add material such as the renormalization group.
In this book advanced techniques such as Green's functions are not used. I have tried to introduce as many of the concepts of modern condensed matter physics as I could without them. As a result, some topics that are of central importance in modern research do not appear.
The problems are an integral part of the book. Some concepts that are used in later chapters are introduced as problems.
Students are expected to have a good background in statistical physics, non-relativistic quantum theory, and, ideally, know undergraduate Solid State physics at the level of Kittel (2005).
I decided to write this book as a result of coming back to teaching Condensed Matter after a number of years covering other subjects. I had hoped to find a substitute for the grand old standards like Ziman (1972) or Ashcroft & Mermin (1976) which I used at the beginning of my teaching career. Though there are newer texts that are interesting in many ways, I found that none of them quite fit my needs as an instructor.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Advanced Condensed Matter Physics , pp. xi - xiiPublisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009