STRUCTURE OF MATTER <br />
Academic year and teacher
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2015/2016
- Teacher
- LORIS GIOVANNINI
- Credits
- 12
- Didactic period
- Annualità Singola
- SSD
- FIS/03
Training objectives
- To present a phenomenological and experimental introduction to quantum physics. To give a treatment of the kinetic theory of gases in the framework of the Boltzmann transport equation. To introduce the basic concepts of statistical ensemble theory in the classical case, with extension to the main quantum results, with applications to solid state physics. To provide a basic knowledge of Atomic Physics (multielectron atoms), of Molecular Physics (electron and vibration-rotation states of simple molecules), of Solid State and of the interaction of radiation with matter.
Prerequisites
- Basic knowledge of Quantum Mechanics is recommended
Course programme
- Part one
THERMAL RADIATION (6 hours)
Properties of thermal radiation. Black body. Stefan’s law. Wien’s law. Rayleigh-Jeans law. Planck’s theory
INTERACTION OF RADIATION WITH MATTER (6 hours)
Photoelectric effect: Einstein’s quantum theory; the photons. Compton effect. X-ray production. Pair production and pair annihilation. Definition of cross section
QUANTUM PHENOMENOLOGY (10 hours)
de Broglie’s postulate. Davisson and Germer experiment. The wave-particle duality. The uncertainty principle. Atomic models: Thomson’s, Rutherford’s and Bohr’s models. Hints on the Sommerfeld model.
STATISTICAL PHYSICS (20 hours)
Classical statitistcs: Maxwell-Boltrzmann distribution. Energy Equipartition theorem; application to the ideal gas.
Statistical thermodynamics. Introduction to the quantum statistics. Fermi Dirac distribution and the free electron gas. Bose Einstein distribution. The black body as a photon gas.
INTRODUCTION TO SOLID STATE PHYSICS (6 hours)
Bravais lattices. Simple crystal structures .The Wigner-Seitz cell.
X-ray diffraction: Bragg’s law.
Electron dynamics in solids: free electron model and semiclassical model; electron scattering, mean free path, electric conductivity. Hall effect. Thermal conductivity of electrons. Wiedemann-Franz law. Heat capacity of the electron gas
Phonons of the one-dimensional lattice. Debye model and lattice specific heat. Thermal conductivity of phonons.
Part two
Properties of atomic wavefunctions: quantum numbers, spatial probability (2 hours).
Stern-Gerlach experiment; electron spin; LS coupling; relativistic effects, Landè interval rule (2 hours). Lamb effect, iperfine structure; spontaneous emission; selection rules in a strong magnetic field; inversion operator, selection rules in the electric dipole approximation; spontaneous and stimulated emission, comparison with the black body radiation (Einstein model) (6 hours).
Multielectron atoms; fermions, simmetry of the wavefunctions, orthohelium and parahelium; Hartree model (4 hours). Ionization potential; X ray emission spectra, Moseley's rule; Auger effect (2 hours). Alkali atoms; atoms with two or more optical electrons; energy levels of the carbon atom; optical transitions and selection rules; Zeeman effect, Landè factor and Paschen-Bach effect in multielectron atoms (6 hours).
Molecules electronic structure, LCAO model; bonding and antibonding orbitals; diatomic molecules, covalent and dipolar bonding; polyatomic molecules (4 hours). Hybridization; conjugated molecules: optical properties (2 hours). Molecular excitations: rotations, vibrations; electronic and rotation-vibration combined transitions; Franck-Condon principle (4 hours). Atomic spectra; Raman scattering (2 hours). Heat capacity of a polyatomic gas (molecules), rotational and vibrational contributions (2 hours).
Reciprocal lattice; X-ray diffraction; Von Laue model (2 hours). Ewald sphere, experimental methods; structure and form factor, forbidden reflections (2 hours). Electrons in a periodic potential, Bloch theorem; electron wavevector, physical meaning (2 hours). Weak periodic potential, energy gap (2 hours). Electric conductivity in the band model; conductors, insulators and semiconductors (2 hours). Semiconductors: valence and conduction bands, holes (2 hours). Didactic methods
- Formal lectures and problem solving sessions.
Learning assessment procedures
- The aim of the exam is to verify at which level the learning objectives previously described have been acquired.
The examination is divided in two tests, i.e. written and oral sessions, for any of the two parts. The written test consists in solving some problems concerning the program is fully passed with a score of 18 to 30. The interview will be held a few days after the written test and check the preparation of the student in dealing with the proposed topics . The final mark will take into account the overall results of the examinations (written and oral tests, parts one and two of the programme). Reference texts
- 1)R.Eisberg, R.Resnick "Quantum Physics of Atoms, Molecules, Solids, Nuclei and Particles", 2nd Edition, J.Wiley & Sons, 1985 (Capitoli 1,2,3,4,8,9,10)
2)Alonso-Finn "Quantum and statistical Physics" vol. 3, Addison-Wesley (Chapters 10,11,12,13)
3)C. Kittel "Introduction to Solid State Physics" VI Edizione, J. Wiley &Sons, 1986 (Capitoli 1,2,4,5,6,7,8).
